Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to provide the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program (VCAP). These funds will support program activities for a twelve-month period for a total amount of $75,000.
The Ohio Association of Foodbanks, in partnership with Community Reinvestment Resources, will work cooperatively with the City of Columbus to pilot the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program (VCAP). This pilot program will seek to address the barriers to long-term stability facing approximately 210 of the city's most at-risk veterans, a population identified by Franklin County Municipal Court and the Central Ohio Homeless Veterans Stand Down. VCAP will ensure a "no wrong door" policy for these veterans, providing them a pathway to long-term stability and employment through a tiered, wrap-around service model. VCAP will seek to:
Tier 1 - Perform thorough initial assessments with at least 210 veterans: These assessments will identify barriers facing the individual (e.g., addiction issues, lack of housing, legal issues or criminal records, etc.) as well as any potential assets available to the individual (e.g., training/certifications gained during military service, willingness to participate in case management, etc.).
Tier 2 - Guide at least 75 veterans through the completion of application(s) available through The Ohio Benefit BankĀ (OBB) or through other hands-on referrals: Case managers will connect at-risk veterans with programs including supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP, or food stamps) and emergency food assistance, health care coverage through Ohio Medicaid and/or SSDI, home energy assistance, and veterans education benefits.
Tier 3 - Provide extensive, in-depth case management to at least 40 veterans: For those veterans with multiple barriers to long-term stability and employment, case managers will provide "deep-dive" services for an extended period. Working one-on-one with these veterans, case managers will help them to identify a long-term path toward self-sufficiency.
The proposed VCAP project aligns closely with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and is designed to pilot effective strategies for coordinating veterans services at the local level. The success of this one-year pilot, carried out in partnership with the City of Columbus, will be used to leverage additional local, state, and/or federal resources to bring VCAP as a best practice to other major cities in Ohio and to secure sustainability of VCAP in Columbus for the long-term.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the transfer and expenditure of $75,000.00 from the 2014 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to support the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program (VCAP); to authorize the transfer of $75,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $75,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to support the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program (VCAP); and
WHEREAS, these funds will support program activities for a twelve-month period for a total amount of $75,000; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, in partnership with Community Reinvestment Resources, will work cooperatively with the City of Columbus to pilot the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program (VCAP); and
WHEREAS, this pilot program will seek to address the barriers to long-term stability facing approximately 210 of the city's most at-risk veterans, a population identified by Franklin County Municipal Court and the Central Ohio Homeless Veterans Stand Down; and
WHEREAS, VCAP will ensure a "no wrong door" policy for these veterans, providing them a pathway to long-term stability and employment through a tiered, wrap-around service model; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to transfer said funds and enter into an agreement to avoid delaying the availability of these vital program services, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to support the Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Program.
Section 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $75,000.00 within the General Fund, Fund 010 from the Department of Finance & Management, Department/Division 45-01, Object Level One 10, Object Level Three 5501, OCA 904508 to the Department of Development, Division 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 499038.
Section 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $75,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund, Department of Development, Division 44-01, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 499038.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended.
Section 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
Section 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.