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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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! ]8 \4 ^; ^1 zEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes6 j. ?4 f+ O' u) d
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
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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.! r: A4 n) K7 A( z; m7 W
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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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5 T2 ?! F8 l3 `2 r- F2 ZThe $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said. ) R9 R$ ^7 R9 R& D; L+ @
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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.! ^1 q+ F; Q" }) E
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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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6 J: l0 L0 J1 k7 v/ e% }"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.4 c7 n9 k" o6 \) C
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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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! I# i( c, w( j8 @( ~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.6 j: P/ M) x) R" f7 z' O/ @& s
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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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