Explanation
Background:
This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to enter into new not for profit services contracts with Columbus Next Generation Corporation (“Next Gen”) and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio, non-profit organizations, for administration of the Owner-Occupied Initiative (OOI) program.
The prior contracts associated with this program expired without authorized modifications extending the term being fully executed. As a result, new legislation is required to authorize replacement contracts in order to continue program services. As noted in the prior ordinance, 3173-2025, the OOI program provides critical home repair assistance to elderly and/or disabled homeowners to correct code violations and maintain safe housing conditions.
The City Attorney’s Office and the Franklin County Environmental Court have historically partnered with these organizations to deliver services including, but not limited to, roof repair/replacement, gutters, painting, sewer line work, porch and foundation repair, and remediation of exterior code violations. These homeowners often lack the financial means or physical ability to complete necessary repairs.
Next Gen has administered the program since its inception, and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio joined as a partner in 2025. Both entities have demonstrated the experience and capacity to continue delivering these services. These needed services cannot be provided by existing city employees as the city lacks the necessary resource capacity and expertise.
Next Gen and Habitat for Humanity deliver critical repair services to residents struggling with housing code violations. By streamlining the application process and providing case management support, this partnership effectively removes the administrative hurdles that often prevent vulnerable homeowners from accessing help.
To date, the initiative has supported 85 households, with Next Gen spearheading repairs to 80 homes and Habitat for Humanity recently joining the effort to serve an additional five homes. The program targets a broad range of issues from minor fixes to full roof replacements, ensuring that any violations are resolved. Ultimately, this initiative enables residents to age in place with dignity while safeguarding the city’s housing stock for generations to come.
In 2025, Next Gen invested over $230,000 in rehabilitating homes of individuals who otherwise would not have had the opportunity due to financial or physical limitations. Habitat for Humanity invested over $120,000 in rehabilitating homes.
Because the prior contracts expired, they cannot be extended or modified; therefore, new contracts must be authorized to ensure continuity of services.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding is available within the General Fund, Fund 1000, Subfund 100018 (Neighborhood Initiatives).
Columbus Next Generation Corporation
FID: 46-2621229 | CC#: CC008637 | expires 5/2/2027
Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio
FID: 31-1217994 | CC#004859 | expires 1/27/2027
Emergency Justification:
Emergency action is requested to prevent a disruption in critical home repair services for vulnerable residents currently engaged in the program and to ensure continuity of operations within the City Attorney’s Office.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to enter into contracts with Columbus Next Generation Corporation and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio to provide home repair services under the Owner-Occupied Initiative program; to authorize the reimbursement of qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase orders; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds within the General Fund Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($477,536.80)
Body
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office administers the Owner-Occupied Initiative (OOI) program to provide grants for home repairs to owner-occupants to correct code violations; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Next Generation Corporation and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio have experience and capacity to administer and deliver these services; and
WHEREAS, through the OOI program, Next Gen and Habitat for Humanity deliver critical repair services to residents struggling with housing code violations. By streamlining the application process and providing case management support, this partnership effectively removes the administrative hurdles that often prevent vulnerable homeowners from accessing help; and
WHEREAS, prior contracts associated with this program have expired without executed extensions, requiring new contracts to be authorized; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to continue providing these services without interruption to protect the health, safety, and welfare of vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to enter into these contracts to prevent disruption of critical home repair services for vulnerable residents currently engaged in the program and to ensure continuity of operations within the City Attorney's Office, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Columbus Next Generation Corporation to administer the Owner-Occupied Initiative program and provide home repair services to eligible residents and that the City Attorney is authorized to reimburse qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase order.
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio to administer the Owner-Occupied Initiative program and provide home repair services to eligible residents and that the City Attorney is authorized to reimburse qualifying expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase order
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate funds within the General Fund, Fund 1000, Subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of funds is hereby authorized in an amount not to exceed $348,021.60 for Columbus Next Generation Corporation and $129,515.20 for Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio.
SECTION 5. That these contracts are awarded in accordance with the not-for-profit service contracting provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to revise the funding source for all contracts associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.