Make A House A Home: Cst. Downer and Capital Prosperity Foundation Help Family of Nine

On March 24, Constable Cole Downer, alongside Cst. Karhani, Cst. Issa and Cst. Galley, responded to a call at a residence in Ottawa. Upon arrival, it became clear that the situation involved a struggling single mother and her eight children living in severely inadequate conditions.

Inside the home, the officers observed a heartbreaking scene: the small unit was infested with cockroaches, the refrigerator was empty, the area was in need of significant care and cleaning, and the only furniture in the home was a single foam mattress without blankets or pillows on the floor and worn sofas. The family needed urgent support.

Recognizing the urgency, Cst. Downer connected the family with the appropriate community services and ensured the family was soon relocated to a more suitable home. “It’s one of the harder calls to go to,” Cst. Downer expressed. “This [mom] is so young with so many children. She doesn’t have the means to afford all [everything they need].”

Still, he knew more needed to be done to help them settle and live with dignity.

Drawing inspiration from a program he had heard about early in his policing career, Cst. Downer reached out to the Make A House A Home program, a partnership initiative between the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and the Capital Prosperity Foundation (CPF). “When I started at OPS, I responded to a similar call with my coach officer and he arranged for the family to get furniture so I thought of this program right away for this particular family.”

Thanks to his efforts, the family received an area rug, shelving units, four beds with mattresses, night tables, dressers, a desk, an ottoman, a large lounge chair and a bench, creating a safer and more comfortable space for the children.

In addition, Cst. Downer personally delivered four $100 Walmart gift cards to help the mother purchase basic necessities. The family expressed deep gratitude for the unexpected support.

Constable Downer’s empathy and proactive approach, paired with his knowledge of programs like Make A House A Home, transformed a difficult situation into an opportunity for a better life for this mother and her children.

We'd like to thank the CPF and Walmart for their partnership and ongoing dedication to our community.