Embracing innovation was key to the success of the Pocket House Project. Pocket Houses incorporate the following four innovative aspects reflected in the project design: housing “fit”, suite size, the promotion of dignity, and accessibility. The first innovative characteristic of Pocket Houses was fitting a modern, multi-family dwelling onto an infill lot at a scale consistent with adjacent singlefamily housing. This immediately set the project apart from other conventional affordable housing developments since its design fit into the existing single family neighbourhood character while providing affordable high-density housing for single residents. Secondly, at 230 sq. ft. per unit for a single person dwelling, the units supply all the basic housing necessities including a private bathroom, entrance, cooking area and bedroom while keeping maintenance, utility, and building costs down. There are no common areas in the building, thereby reducing both capital and operating costs. Thirdly, Pocket Houses help to promote dignity and independence of the tenants through the provision of private bathrooms and entranceways as well as separate ventilation systems to prevent sound and odour disturbances between tenants. The lack of a shared hallway or entrance corridor also cuts down on noise and security issues. Lastly, integrating accessibility into the Pocket House design helped to make the project functional for tenants with mobility issues. All of the ground-floor suites are barrier free and one unit in every building is fully accessible for wheelchairs or other mobility devices. In addition, the accessibility of Pocket Houses also extends to the broader neighbourhood. Sites for the Pocket Houses were selected so that tenants would be in close proximity to bus stops, laundromats and other basic community services. Similar to many projects based on cutting edge design, the Pocket Houses encountered a number of challenges including finding suitably sized lots and complying with zoning regulations. Another challenge involved designing a multi-family building without common space while complying with the Winnipeg Housing and Homeless Initiative’s (WHHI) request for universally accessible units. Overcoming local resistance to the Pocket Houses required a community consultation process to help dispel fears regarding the development of the Pocket Houses. The two main local concerns were the design of the units and the future tenant groups. Local neighbours were concerned that the Pocket Houses on narrow lots would too closely resemble mobile homes. Cohlmeyer Architects addressed this concern by incorporating unique exterior features, and offsetting the front and rear units. Subsequently, S.A.M Management, along with ND LEA, discussed measures to help deal with local fears regarding future tenants by offering to provide tenant supports while ensuring an appropriate mix of tenants who would integrate well into the community. The end result of the community consultation process was community support for the project including consent for the numerous zoning variance applications that were needed for the project to conform to City regulations. These variances included side yard allowances, increased densities and insufficient parking. A final challenge was the rising cost of construction. Resourcefully, project collaborators chose to take a long-term outlook on the project in the face of financial difficulties. The implementation of different green technologies has been seen as long-term benefit for the project. Low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, compact florescent lights, paired hot water tanks, single piece kitchen units, and effective separate ventilation systems are only some of the technologies featured in the buildings to help lower costs on a long-term basis. Innovation was key to overcoming the challenges of a new planning model while focusing on the quality of the end product for both the tenants and the surrounding communities.