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The Toronto Enterprise Fund resulted from the convergence of government, community and donor interests to address the crisis of homelessness. In 1999, the Mayor’s Homelessness Action Task Force recommended investment in Community Economic Development (CED) initiatives as a means to address the root cause of homelessness – poverty and lack of economic opportunity. Following the release of the Task Force’s report, Human Resources Development Canada initiated discussions with funders and community groups in Toronto to consider solutions to homelessness. At the same time, major donors approached United Way of Greater Toronto, seeking to invest in CED. The Province of Ontario had also begun to look at how they could achieve greater impact for their investments in employment support services. Launched in April 2000 as a three-year program, the Fund has been extended to 2011 by the funding partners. Over the life of the fund, it has evolved to support the development of social purpose enterprises through direct investment in the enterprises, business development assistance and ongoing research and evaluation. 
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