In 2003, the EFC determined that there was a need to bring together evangelical leaders who work with those who are homeless along with others who are studying the homelessness problem from a public policy perspective, in order to best determine how Canada’s evangelical community can better address homelessness in Canada.

The Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness is a self-commissioned, self-directing partnership that was created in June, 2003, and operates under the auspices of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC).  It is composed of leaders of 14 significant Canadian Christian agencies that work among our nation’s poor and homeless.

The Roundtable’s Purpose is:

To move the church and government to the creation of healthy homes for those in our community who are homeless, living in the streets, in shelters and inadequate, insecure housing.

Members of the Roundtable are currently divided into three working groups: one is focused on developing a strategy and position statements for advocacy purposes; one on research and resource development, and one on gatherings, including planning for the 2009 Street Level conference.

The foundational statements, which provide the basis for our messages to the church and to government are articulated in the Ottawa Manifesto. This document, a call and commitment to a shared vision of Canada in which no person is denied the reality of home, was formally introduced at the opening banquet of Street Level 2006. 

The Manifesto, endorsed by conference delegates, was printed in the Ottawa Citizen on Monday, April 3 – the day the 39th Parliament convened in Ottawa. It was subsequently made available online, and a steady stream of individuals from across the country have been adding their voices to those of the Roundtable and delegates of Street Level 2006, in calling the nation to place a high priority on addressing issues of poverty and homelessness.