The Pocket House model is a recent development aimed at alleviating one segment of the affordable housing need in Manitoba. Beginning in 2003, S.A.M Management retained ND LEA Inc. to undertake a feasibility study for an affordable alternative to rooming house accommodations, or single room occupancy (SRO). The study, which was funded through a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Proposal Development Fund (PDF) loan, yielded a unique and cutting-edge alternative to conventional rooming houses. The study concluded that construction of new buildings on scattered narrow infill lots would fit well with the City of Winnipeg’s inventory of vacant lots in residential neighbourhoods. The study also drew on the assessed needs of single persons with low incomes commonly living in SRO’s and concluded the following: Residents need their own private toilet and washroom for reasons of sanitation and dignity. Individuals need reduced noise transmission between units to promote independent lifestyles and accommodate individuals employed on shift work or with early morning start times. Air quality within the building should be maintained at a high level due to legislation governing health regulations (e.g., secondhand smoke). ND LEA, along with Cohlemyer Architects, created an innovative infill project that was successful in designing a multi-occupancy building to fit on the vacant narrow residential lots in some of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods. At an average size of 230 sq. ft., per unit, the suites are an affordable housing model that offers a suitable alternative to rooming houses for low-income single persons, one type of housing need often overlooked in Manitoba. Negotiating the acquisition of the lots for a cost of $1.00 per lot from the City of Winnipeg helped to build a strong partnership and project understanding. This facilitated the creation of a longterm impact on the profession by raising its public profile and demonstrating how professional planners can bring creative solutions to the table in helping to overcome urban problems like the shortage of quality low-income and barrier-free housing. With the assistance of SAM Management, the housing concept developed from neighbourhood collaboration focused on the appropriate strategy for integrating Pocket Houses into inner-city neighbourhoods. Each building is two storeys high and has 8 units each with separate entrances, private washrooms, and separate ventilation systems. Each Pocket House features three barrier-free suites and one fully accessible suite on the main floor, with four other suites on the second level accessible by two outside staircases. Each suite has a built-in cooking area complete with mini-fridge, microwave, sink, hot plate, dishes and cooking utensils. Suites also feature a single bed, a built-in table and a chair. The fully accessible main floor suite has modified doorways and a large roll-in shower for wheelchairs. All of the Pocket Houses meet the Manitoba Hydro requirements for being Power Smart and energy efficient signifying excellence in design and sustainability. To date, four Pocket Houses have been built. In Winnipeg, two of the houses are located in the Centennial neighbourhood and two in the Spence neighbourhood. The majority of the suites within the houses have been rented demonstrating successful project implementation. The City of Winnipeg has classified Spence and Centennial as two of Winnipeg’s highest need neighborhoods and Major Improvement Areas (MIAs), based on a variety of indicators (e.g., condition of housing, rental and ownership rates, unemployment and poverty rates, income levels, incidence of crime). These neighbourhoods also have a significant proportion of one-person households, residents living in rental accommodations, and households with incomes under $20,000 per year based on the 2001 Census results. Affordability is clearly a core housing need, making affordable housing a key issues faced by some of Canada’s most vulnerable citizens. Roughly one third of Canada’s population is in need of affordable housing. This statistic points to the contribution that Pocket Houses could make in improving the quality of life of many inner city residents.