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Out of more than 200 neighbourhoods in Edmonton, roughly one dozen currently have 16 per cent or more subsidized units.

More than half of Edmonton neighbourhoods have no affordable housing at all.

Several people from the inner city neighbourhoods where units are now concentrated came to council’s executive committee meeting Monday to urge a lower cap, such as the 10 per cent pitched last year. They argued that would push new affordable housing into other neighbourhoods sooner.

“Clients of social housing need a chance,” said Central McDougall’s Warren Champion, tying the high levels of poverty concentrated in their neighbourhoods to social disorder and crime. People trying to rebuild their lives need a quiet community where they’re not running into drug dealers whenever they go outside, he said, or “someone pushing a shopping cart saying ‘come get high with me.'”

But city officials say Edmonton will need 16 per cent in all neighbourhoods to address the existing need. More than 48,000 residents today spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent and some spend much, much more. The affordable housing proposed includes everything from housing with intensive supports for those coming off the street to subsidized seniors homes

If city council approves the target next Tuesday, it will take effect on Jan. 1. The target will be reviewed every five years to see if it still addresses the need in the community.

“The 16 per cent is long term and aspirational,” said Christel Kjenner, director of housing and homelessness. It doesn’t make sense to put affordable housing where there aren’t even buses, but “there’s many neighbourhoods that do have services that don’t have 16 per cent affordable housing.”