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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
3 X# [* H; A& O" G8 YLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT : j4 U; M/ S' b; S4 w
CBC News 7 f/ X/ S+ n3 j2 ]( i, y
$ O& g' _! s4 ^6 J* u# K7 Z- u* bAn 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.+ t1 t' Q- {& K1 m
( ?7 r# E7 f6 n9 c% f% U+ e$ VCam 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.9 V* H7 {- T+ O- ~
/ Z" H& \/ A% C, FThe $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 M- t& T# p, r, u
2 Q, y0 h% M8 Z- M0 f4 ^"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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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.
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"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.3 F8 n! h- M S" I& [7 O/ F9 s
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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.( F& F4 K; L6 P: R1 `- t0 h
8 S. a4 F& q/ Y {, n( y+ v! z! q"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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