This is one of the Canadian CED Network's CED in Manitoba Profiles Project produced 50 stories of Manitoba communities working to build fairer and stronger local economies, reduce poverty, and revitalize neighbourhoods.

Spence neighbourhood, located in inner-city Winnipeg, was, until recently, in serious decline. Between 1991 and 1996, two out of every three Spence residents moved out of the area.

In 1997, five community volunteers decided to improve the condition of their neighbourhood by creating a non-profit housing group, now known as the Spence Neighbourhood Association (SNA). Those dedicated volunteers started out by cleaning a single back lane and then renovated a home for a young family shortly after.

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