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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html& M7 R% h6 V4 N
1 o1 b$ n" d% ~ @Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
; o! n: T8 O/ ^Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
4 q* H. s C4 k! kCBC News ' ~6 t/ K& _% n0 D
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An ambitious city plan to build almost 4,000 new units of affordable housing in Edmonton over the next three years is welcome news for an advocate for the poor.1 @- |8 y, u6 z
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Cam McDonald, a spokesman with the YMCA, said demand is brisk these days for the organization's simple accommodations, which have become home to hundreds of people.
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. B# T0 k6 L/ q7 N, P# I6 d# U* H
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.$ B# V( O* j+ |4 r
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.6 R3 M2 w, l# m! [ W$ i. \
( Q5 {& U* c' e' ^9 \* h$ m1 y"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.; Q7 I3 I" G/ x9 R3 x; l) H. Z
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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But McDonald said the work will have to continue for five or even 10 years if Edmonton is going to meet the needs of those who can't find affordable housing.3 ^8 z0 s( K4 C9 b1 |! F3 _+ v- F
: e8 |! U# ?8 u" D5 }- |" E) z"It's going to take time — this is not an overnight solution by any means — but I think we are making good progress." |
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