[2][3] Crosscare was founded during The Emergency in 1941 (inaugurated on 17 April as the Catholic Social Service Conference) by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid and it initially provided "penny dinners" throughout its 27 food centres.
Crosscare, as part of its work, lobbies government of issues it is concerned about and on behalf of those who use its services.
The Drug Awareness Programme (Crosscare, Clonliffe College) runs a Certificate in Addiction Studies at NUI Maynooth.
[6] Crosscare Migrant Project (formerly Emigrant Advice)[5] was integrated into Crosscare the 1990s, and provides information and advocacy support to immigrants living in Ireland, as well as Irish people moving abroad and returning to Ireland.
Additionally, Crosscare Migrant Project conducts research into contemporary Irish migration, offers training and informational events, and initiates social policy campaigns.