Founded in 1988 as the Central Dallas Food Pantry, CitySquare adopted its current name in 2010 to make the case that fighting poverty involves uniting the entire community in the heart of the city. With a mission to fight the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy, and friendship, CitySquare runs a range of social service programs that serve about 50,000 people a year. Key programs include financial empowerment, which matches poor working families with coaches who help them build assets, and workforce development, which placed 279 people in jobs in 2015. In 2001, the nonprofit created an affiliate CDC, Central Dallas Community Development Corporation, to develop affordable and supportive housing. A joint project now under development is Cottages at Hickory Crossing, a $6.8 million housing project across from CitySquare’s main building. When completed, it will include 50 cottages for formerly homeless individuals in a village that encompasses a community garden and a range of services to meet residents’ needs.