Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with not-for-profit social service agencies for the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI). See attached Exhibit A for the list of seven not-for-profit social services agencies included in this ordinance. The total amount awarded to these agencies is $965,250.00 The period of performance of each Grant Agreement shall be a 12-month period beginning April 1, 2026 and thus authorization to pay for expenditures beginning prior to the purchase order is also requested with this legislation beginning April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
It is the priority of the City to increase housing stability by helping residents stay housed and prevent displacement. Housing Stability is vital to our lives, contributing to social connection, health, and prosperity. Lack thereof contributes to disconnection, poor health outcomes, economic distress and-in the most critical situations-homelessness. The region is experiencing a housing crisis: our residents face rising rents, record rates of eviction, a lack of affordable housing, and an overburdened homeless shelter system. With these current realities, investing in homelessness prevention can limit housing crisis damage and relieve the impacts of emergency shelter stays.
Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) ended September 30, 2025, leaving infrastructure in place to continue providing eviction and homelessness prevention to vulnerable residents of Columbus. The Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) will continue homelessness prevention services through funding from the Department of Development Division of Housing Stability’s general fund budget. The program includes housing crisis coaching, financial assistance, and housing-focused case management. RHI Service Providers will support eligible participants through each step of the program. The RHI Service Provider opportunity was made available to agencies that participated in the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2)-funded Housing Resource Specialist program from 2023-2025.
Funding will be advanced to each agency on a predetermined schedule. Advancement of funds is needed because many of the organizations do not have funding available to be reimbursed for program expenses. The first advance will occur after confirmation of the Purchase Order. Before the second advance is made, the agency shall provide reports and documentation indicating how the funds were used to fulfill the scope of services in the grant agreement. Additionally, these programs/grant agreements may include reasonable food for participants of the program. The expenditure of such items is deemed to be a valid public purpose in that it will address immediate needs of program participants beginning with the period of performance of the grant beginning April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. These expenditures are authorized in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329 as food and/or non-alcoholic beverage expenditures are part of the standard operating costs for the non-profit organizations serving such vulnerable populations. The cost per person for food and non-alcoholic beverages shall not exceed the per diem rate established by the Department of Finance and Management.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to provide emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction, homelessness and stabilize residents in a housing crisis.
Contract Compliance: See attached Exhibit A for a list of social services agencies and the vendor registration and contract compliance data.
Fiscal Impact: $965,250.00 is available within the Department of Development’s general fund budget
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute grant agreements with seven not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $965,250.00 for the Resilient Housing Initiative; to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages; to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning April 1, 2026; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement; to authorize expenditure in an amount up to $965,250.00; and to declare an emergency. ($965,250.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is the priority of the City to increase housing stability by helping residents stay housed and prevent displacement; and
WHEREAS, the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) will continue homelessness prevention services through 2026 using the Department of Development, Division of Housing Stability general fund budget; and
WHEREAS, RHI Service Providers will support eligible participants through housing crisis coaching, financial assistance, and housing-focused case management; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute grant agreements with seven not-for-profit social service agencies for the Resilient Housing Initiative; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize expenditure within the Department of Development’s general fund budget in an amount up to $965,250.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting April 1, 2026 which may include food and non-alcoholic beverage expenditures for participants of the program which are considered an operating cost of the not-for-profit agency and is an allowable expense in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to also authorize advanced funds per a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to execute grant agreements with seven not-for-profit, social service for the Resilient Housing Initiative to provide emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction, homelessness and stabilize residents in a housing crisis thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, and safety; 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 grant agreements with seven not-for-profit, social service agencies in an amount up to $965,250.00 for the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI), to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages. The cost per person for food and non-alcoholic beverages shall not exceed the per diem rate established by the Department of Finance and Management; to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning April 1, 2026; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure in an amount up to $965,250.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines as operating costs inherent to the mission of this program the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or food insecurity. Expenses incurred prior to the creation of a purchase order may be reimbursed beginning April 1, 2026. City Council declares that the expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses authorized by this ordinance to be for a proper public purpose in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 7. 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 which 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 it.