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A group of neighbours sat around a table debating what to do about the growing number of local slum houses.

They tried writing letters to council; tried calling bylaw and police repeatedly. Tried publicly shaming absentee landlords into fixing windows, plumbing, heat and drug dealing.

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Still, the problem grew. And once a slum house got established on an otherwise quiet street, disorder and fear spread.

So these McCauley residents did what might seem unthinkable. They pooled their savings, leveraged retirement plans, and started buying houses themselves.

“I literally walked around and asked, can you put in some money?” says Anna Bubel, one of the leaders. “Then everyone was on the hunt for property.”

For about 10 years, from 2000 to 2010, they did everything they could to prevent more properties from falling into the hands of certain landlords. They didn’t always succeed. But over that time, her small group bought eight lots and built 16 duplex units, resold at cost to people previously renting in the neighbourhood.