Oct 29th, 2025
Kitchen Renovations Will Better Serve 4,000 residents in Lowertown
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The Lowertown Good Neighbours Community House now has a brand-new kitchen with new cabinets and appliances This was made possible thanks to the hard work of 50 volunteers from the Canadian Real Estate Association on Oct. 28. The upgrades make a big difference, giving tenants a safer, more comfortable place to cook, share meals, and spend time together.
By the numbers
The community house is supported by the Lowertown Community Resource Centre and serves 2,400 residents from 11 OCH communities, as well as more than 4,000 people across Lowertown.
They offer:
- before and after-school programming,
- summer camps, and
- a food bank.
The food bank served 2,312 people in 2024.
Making a difference
The volunteers are part of a housing coalition that speaks up for more affordable housing. Before the volunteers took a bus to Beausoleil Drive, they spent the morning at Parliament Hill meeting with government members. Then in the afternoon, they went to work.
Matthew Beutel, Executive Director of the Lowertown Resource Centre, said many clients live in motels or shelters. For tenants, the new kitchen means having a reliable place to cook, do laundry, and learn new skills — things many people take for granted, but that makes everyday life better.
“The new kitchen and building updates will help us offer a warm, welcoming, and reliable space for residents,” he said. “It’s about making sure tenants feel at home and have what they need.”
Volunteers also built a closet for donated clothes, finished a family support room, and painted parts of the community house.
“Community Houses are the heartbeat of OCH neighbourhoods. They make a difference in the lives of OCH residents every day,” said Ottawa Community Housing Chief Executive Officer, Stéphane Giguère. He added that the work of volunteers will affect thousands of people living in Lowertown.
