Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement (Modification No. 2) with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation in an amount up to $15,000.00 to assist individuals served by the Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) program with funding for temporary accommodations. As it was authorized with the original agreement, this grant modification will include advancement of funds per a pre-determined schedule.
Original $ 65,000.00 Ord. 1686-2023 PO467735
Mod 1 $ 150,000.00 Ord. 3360-2024 PO485707
Mod 2 $ 15,000.00
Total $ 230,000.00
The Tony R Wells Foundation will partner with a City-selected partner operating as the Vacated Tenant Services (VTS) Temporary Housing Coordinator for eligible vacated tenants. The Tony R Wells Foundation will act as the Temporary Housing Coordinator’s fiscal manager to dispense funding to enable temporary accommodations. Assistance may include temporary housing costs and essential relocation assistance expenses.
The VTS partners make program eligibility determinations to qualify residents for funding to ensure housing stability and the Temporary Housing Coordinator will, in turn, inform the Tony R Wells Foundation which temporary accommodations are approved for funding and how much.
The Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) program will coordinate with the VTS program to provide emergency temporary housing units for CVR participants when there is a time sensitive situation that requires individuals or households to be relocated for public safety related concerns.
Funding for this program focuses on assisting displaced tenants from unsafe, unsanitary or inhabitable housing conditions. The Tony R Wells Foundation will make the payments directly to the recipients or other entities on their behalf. As such, funds will be advanced to the Tony R Wells Foundation.
Under this agreement, funding is included for recipients’ needs and a 6% fee for the Tony R Wells Foundation acting as the fiscal manager.
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. The amount of the additional funds to be expended is $15,000.00.
2. The Department of Development could not predict the rate at which the Vacated Tenant Services program would build capacity to include additional City agencies.
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with the Tony R Wells Foundation’s current contract as they are the acting fiscal manager partnered with the VTS Temporary Housing Coordinator.
4. The amount of this modification is based on the availability of funds and not a pricing strategy.
Emergency action is requested to prevent disruption of services as the Columbus Violence Reduction program is actively working to place households, often removing them from violent situations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided by a transfer from the Office of Violence Prevention’s 2025 budget.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s number is 038668 and expires on 06/22/2025. Updated contract compliance is pending.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation in an amount up to $15,000.00 to provide assistance to individuals facing housing instability; to authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $15,000.00 from the General Fund; to authorize advance payments per a predetermined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development has a need to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation and authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $15,000.00 to assist individuals served by the Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) program facing with funding for temporary accommodations; and
WHEREAS, the Tony R Wells Foundation will continue to partner with the City-assigned VTS Temporary Housing Coordinator to provide this assistance with VTS partners making the eligibility determination and the Tony R Wells Foundation providing financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, through Vacated Tenant Services, VTS partners make program eligibility determinations to qualify residents of the local community for funding in order to ensure housing stability and they will, in turn, inform the Tony R Wells Foundation which residents are approved for funding and how much; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development could not predict the rate at which the Vacated Tenant Services program would build capacity to include additional City agencies and a modification is now needed to assist individuals served by the Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) program; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the transfer and expenditure in an amount up to $15,000.00 within the General Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is requested in order to have funding available as soon as possible to prevent disruption of services as the Community Violence Reduction program is actively working to place households, 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 authorized to modify a grant agreement with Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation in an amount up to $15,000.00, and to authorize advance payments per a predetermined schedule.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept.-Div 40-07 (Office of Violence Prevention), Object Class 03 (Services) to Dept.-Div 44-01 (Development Administration), Object Class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100010 (General Fund Operating), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract modification is in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to contract modifications and renewals.
SECTION 5. 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 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 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.