Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into grant agreements with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Lifecare Alliance, and Columbus City Schools in support of their respective food distribution operations. This funding support is necessary due to the continued threatened cessation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and gaps in that funding.
According to data from Ohio Jobs and Family Services, approximately 12.8% of households in Columbus receive SNAP benefits. These benefits are crucial to preventing hunger and supporting food security among the City’s residents. Franklin County has 173,523 SNAP beneficiaries obtaining approximately $31 million per month in benefits. Additionally, Columbus City Schools estimates that approximately 29,000 students receive SNAP benefits. For many of these households, SNAP benefits constitute the primary or sole means by which they can afford to purchase food. The suspension of SNAP benefits will have immediate and severe consequences for Columbus and its residents. When those benefits are suspended, the burden of meeting basic nutritional needs falls to local government and nonprofit service providers that already operate at capacity.The city recognizes that a TRO was granted on 10.31.25, and anticipates that the benefits to eligible recipients will be made available sometime this month. Due to the gap period, however, the city is requesting emergency funding to be able to serve the community during this time.
The City’s community partners-including local food pantries-have reported an increase in residents seeking emergency food assistance since the federal government shutdown began in early October. If November SNAP benefits are not issued, the City anticipates a surge in food insecurity and hunger that will far exceed available resources.
The Mid-Ohio Food Collective is a non-profit organization that services twenty counties in Ohio, and is the largest food bank in the state. Its mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co-creating communities where everyone thrives. Founded in 1970, the Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger. They collaborate with organizations throughout Ohio to provide nutritious meals to at-risk children who need them most. LifeCare Alliance is a nonprofit human services organization that provides a comprehensive array of health and nutrition services to residents of central Ohio. LifeCare Alliance’s mission is to lead our community in identifying and delivering health and nutrition services to meet the community’s changing needs
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for the community partners to immediately address the food distribution need exacerbated by the federal shutdown and the continued threat of the cessation of SNAP benefits.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $695,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund collectively with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Lifecare Alliance, and Columbus City Schools in support of their respective food distribution operations.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to enter into grant agreements with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank dba Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Lifecare Alliance, and Columbus City Schools in support of their respective food distribution operations; to authorize the transfer of $695,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the appropriation of funds, including any additional funds, form the unappropriated balance of the Health Special Revenue Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $695,000.00 from Health Special Revenue Fund; to authorize the expenditure of funds on reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; and to declare an emergency. ($695,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is need to provide support and resources to our community partners, which will be facing greater need as the federal shutdown affects food assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC; and
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank is a non-profit organization that services twenty counties in Ohio, and is the largest food bank in the state; and
WHEREAS, the Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger and collaborate with organizations throughout Ohio to provide nutritious meals to at-risk children who need them most; and
WHEREAS, LifeCare Alliance is a nonprofit human services organization that provides a comprehensive array of health and nutrition services to residents of central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Ginther is proposing support of $695,000.00 (collectively) in support of their food distribution needs; and
WHEREAS, $695,000.00 is available within the General Fund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Columbus Public Health Department in that it is necessary to enter into grant agreements immediately with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank dba Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Lifecare Alliance, and Columbus City Schools in support of their respective food distribution operations to address the food distribution needs exacerbated by the federal shutdown and the cessation of SNAP benefits, 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 Columbus Public Health Department is hereby authorized and directed to enter into grant agreements with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank dba Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Lifecare Alliance, and Columbus City Schools in support of their respective food distribution operations, in the amounts described below:
Mid-Ohio Food Collective: $500,000.00
Columbus City Schools: $125,000.00
Lifecare Alliance: $30,000.00
Children’s Hunger Alliance: $40,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $695,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund to the Health Special Revenue Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Special Revenue Fund, Fund 2250, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2025, the sum of $695,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division 5001, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $695,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Health Special Revenue Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That 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 Columbus Public Health is hereby authorized to advance funds on a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the grant agreements authorized in Section 1.
SECTION 7. That the purchase and distribution of food and beverage corresponding to the program’s activities are deemed to serve a public purpose for the reasons stated in the Explanation portion of this ordinance, and that the total expenditure authorized in Section 3 may be expended on food and non-alcoholic beverages.
SECTION 8. 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 ordinance.
SECTION 9. 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.