CCSAC is founded by nine Central Ottawa churches in response to the growing poverty in the neighbourhood.

In the sixties and seventies, CCSAC introduces a range of services for those in need at a time when government programs or supports are rare. These include a Headstart Nursery, ESL programming, a breakfast club for children and a drop-in centre for those living in the catchment area.

CCSAC opens the Emergency Food & Clothing Centre at McLeod-Stewarton (now Centretown) United Church. The project continues today as the Centretown Community Food Centre (CCFC), now located at 370 Catherine Street, serving an average 1500 people per month.

CCSAC operates the Centretown Employment Support Programme. In 1990, regional school breakfast programs were consolidated by the United Way, the Community Foundation of Ottawa, and Ottawa Network for Education. In 2005, the City of Ottawa opened a Social Services Centre on Catherine Street, prompting the closure of the Employment Support Programme.

CCSAC writes letters on anti-poverty topics to all three levels of government and endorses the City of Ottawa’s efforts to establish cooling centres for inadequately house individuals during summer heat waves. CCSAC supports a motion at City Council declaring a housing emergency in Ottawa, recognizing that the unavailability of affordable housing is the major factor affecting poverty for many central Ottawa residents.

CCSAC starts a small Winter Warmth project to provide donated gently used sleeping bags and warm clothes to two downtown partners, Ottawa Innercity Ministries and Centre 507.

CCSAC member churches, now 22 in number, start participating in the Citizens for Public Justice nation-wide campaigns to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

In 2013, CCSAC makes a submission advocating for social justice issues to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario and the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel.

In 2016, facing a serious lack of funds, CCSAC launches the “Walk for the Centre” to raise funds for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre and to highlight the growing food insecurity facing many in Central Ottawa.

In 2017, CCSAC prepares a submission to the National Poverty Strategy. In the report, CCSAC identifies the lack of affordable housing as the single most important factor contributing to poverty for those living in the central urban core.

In 2017 and 2018, CCSAC writes letters supporting the findings of two reports by Community Health Centres on rooming houses. Both reports emphasize the need to improve the quality of existing rooming houses and the enforcement of current standards in central Ottawa.

In 2019, CCSAC joins the Centretown Neighbourhood Community Development Planning Table which promotes information-sharing amongst poverty-mitigation agencies as well as identifying gaps in services for local residents in need.

During the pandemic, CCSAC moves to a “virtual walkathon”. The Food Centre operates a modified service continually, respecting public health guidelines.

CCSAC wrties letters on anti-poverty topics to all three levels of government and endorses the City of Ottawa’s efforts to establish cooling centres for inadequately housed people during heat waves. CCSAC supports a City Cou motion declaring a housing emergency in Ottawa, recognizing that the unavailability of affordable housing is the major factor affecting poverty for many city residents.

CCSAC starts a small Winter Warmth project to provide gently used sleeping bags and warm clothes to two downtown partners, Ottawa Innercity Ministries and Centre 507.

CCSAC continues its Winter Warmth project and introduces a small Summer Health and Hygiene program for youth clients of Haven Too as well as clients of Daybreak, Centre 507 and Ottawa Innercity Ministries.

CCSAC becomes a member of the Alliance to End Homelessness, and launches a Speaker Series by inviting occasional guest speakers from partner agencies to join its monthly winter Zoom meetings.

The CCSAC board and Food Centre management committee discuss ways to reduce poverty in virtual meetings with groups from across Canada. Reflections from these national consultations are included in the 2022 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty.