The Central Neighbourhood House (CNH) was opened as a settlement house in 1911 in Toronto's old ward. "The Ward" as it was often described had become an entry point for new immigrants to Toronto and the CNH sought to provide training and services. In 1920 the CNH became a founding member of the Federation for Community Service (a precursor to the United Way) and began to attract recently graduated social workers from the nearby University of Toronto.

In 1928 the CNH moved east of Jarvis Street into what would later be Ward 7. While there the settlement house continued to run programs for new immigrants, single women, children and the poor. These services were especially dire during the great depression when unemployment and housing scarcity were rampant.

During the 1960s the CNH began to take a more pro-active stance in the neighbourhood. They published several studies on the surrounding area including an important study on indigenous schooling in Canada. Representatives from the CNH also began organizing local residents to contest the top-down urban renewal project proposed by the city. In St. James Town and then the area south of St. James Town CNH representatives worked with other activists and residents to fight back against the Meridian housing development company in their efforts to drive people out to build private high rise apartments.

In 1970 the CNH moved to 349 Ontario Street. From there CNH workers continued to help organize tenants who were increasingly feeling the squeeze of high rents. They fought to build social housing and would later participate on the Skid Row Committee, which would outline many of the problems faced by the area's most vulnerable residents. Today, CNH continues to advocate for Toronto's poor on the East Side of the city and fight against the ongoing gentrification of the area. At times their stance has created tension with local homeowners who resented the presence of the local poor and homeless population (similar to the tensions that plagued the Don Vale and Trefann Associations), but they have continued to fight and provide services to people who need them.

Cabbagetown-Regent Park Museum, "Toronto's Central Neighbourhood House: 100 Years in the Making," http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_memories/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000818&sl=9530&pos=1&pf=1#2