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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
# G; S3 f, W/ |3 lLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
; O5 m, j- [5 S0 t) a$ r: _CBC News ! [- w- G- ^5 \. x0 C! p
9 r) i4 A3 L0 I% F! B* j" {' {+ LAn 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.
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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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2 r, _! k. z- S6 z- M2 a- vThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. * }' b n" I) ~+ I, f
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"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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" X. j/ Y- T" Q. A" |% v, R: r"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.
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! ~1 s, p6 ]. @0 Q" p: p: @City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.1 ^, v5 n9 E0 O+ E) `0 W/ m2 j
9 w) ^8 @, h& c9 CBut McDonald said the work will have to continue for five or even 10 years if Edmonton is going to meet the needs of those who can't find affordable housing. J$ s+ y" c6 x/ x- k
: v; _6 e* k' X. M2 @6 }6 S! V. L: v"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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