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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html$ L! X& J# j$ c) |
- z- p% l. e* W# E! C/ T- {Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
8 `5 s3 Z( y( q$ k: }Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
( O3 t' \$ G0 nCBC News
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! q8 b- q4 a$ w; nAn 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.( i! F& q9 h7 ^- T4 T
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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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# M# ~3 M. E4 L; LThe $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.
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7 k" e/ j. \- X; X( H"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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: b; z+ Q; `, K# E4 aIn 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.
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.8 G( @( J) F& b- g7 g8 L
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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.
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0 g/ @. R( u' ^3 {"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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