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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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2 s) T: Q6 s" Y i9 T( E/ |, eEdmonton plans thousands of affordable homes1 B- N5 q3 w- }& C4 x& ^" ^ E
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
; f9 y( q1 x" G7 i. S. ZCBC News
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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.
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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 $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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. d3 O! J6 y" U9 x9 ~( ?3 z- o* G% ~"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.
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6 X- Y, X/ G2 [' [) |( {" ZIn the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.
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* J# S; o% s6 S! Q5 r"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.
4 L2 U& S5 I* E( _, d& R$ l3 DContinue Article
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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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4 j! ?' e8 _3 ^+ [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 [- j4 |. ]# D! ]" x, h
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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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