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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html6 C/ Y( O z/ T3 y6 |9 q$ e2 w/ Z
! C( |$ ~8 `# @* d$ w( kEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
' L% [8 |8 {6 l/ BLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT . n8 b5 b; Q# r' @# T' d! ]
CBC News
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0 T+ {7 |& f eAn 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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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. 3 z* b) ~. f9 t" G5 ?; `: } @
$ P b. H) M* }) t3 C3 B _"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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3 g5 |6 f! c" p3 lIn 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.5 A6 _' g P9 j" V
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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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. q- Q$ t6 v) R# DBut 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./ [2 v7 W8 d* }" c! w
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"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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