Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) for the Outreach Program. The contract will provide $117,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund for the purpose of continuing and enhancing the work the Community Shelter Board does with regard to reaching out to individuals who are living on the streets. CSB's Outreach Program serves 350 people annually at a cost of $227,000. The programming includes assertive outreach at sites where homeless persons congregate, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing. Additionally, the Community Shelter Board offers access to benefits and rental assistance as well as support and assistance during city and county-led camp remediation. Statistics show that without the programming provided by the Outreach Program there are more encampments and increased street homelessness with a net result of increased criminal activity and increased hospitalization, medical treatment, incarceration and police intervention - all costly resources.
The Community Shelter Board has also requested $75,000 from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and the remainder of the funding gap has been requested from United Way of Central Ohio.
Emergency action is requested so that the Community Shelter Board can continue to provide these services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this contract are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of continuing the Outreach Program which includes assertive outreach at homeless encampments, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $117,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($117,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) for the Outreach Program. The contract will provide $117,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund for the purpose of continuing and enhancing the work the Community Shelter Board does with regard to reaching out to individuals who are living on the streets; and
WHEREAS, CSB's Outreach Program serves 350 people annually at a cost of $227,000. The programming includes assertive outreach at sites where homeless persons congregate, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing. Additionally, the Community Shelter Board offers access to benefits and rental assistance as well as support and assistance during city and county-led camp remediation; and
WHEREAS, statistics show that without the programming provided by the Outreach Program there are more encampments and increased street homelessness with a net result of increased criminal activity and increased hospitalization, medical treatment, incarceration and police intervention - all costly resources; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is necessary to continue to provide these essential services to the homeless without interruption, thereby preserving 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of continuing the City's support of the Outreach Program.
SECTION 2. That this contract is entered into pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the appropriation and expenditure of $117,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund 018, Department of Development, Division 44-10, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 441810.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.