The City of Edmonton will attempt to buy underused hotels and apartment buildings to house homeless people this fall and winter, council agreed in a motion Wednesday. Mayor Don Iveson will ask the federal and provincial governments for money to purchase real estate that has dropped in price because of COVID-19 pandemic. If the city is successful at securing funding, the housing would accommodate short and medium-term transitional and supportive housing. The mayor said the city wouldn't negotiate with the federal and provincial governments in public or compromise a competitive process to secure real estate. The plan would also help the hospitality industry and owners who can't afford to hold onto their real estate, Iveson suggested.

Source: CBC News September 02, 2020 19:52 UTC