Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into grant agreements in an amount totaling up to $500,000.00 with the Young Women’s Christian Association, Young Men’s Christian Association, Star House, Maryhaven, Inc., Sanctuary Collective, Faith Mission, Inc., and Southeast Inc., in order to assist in the repair of an emergency shelter serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness. These grant agreements will include advancement of funds per a pre-determined schedule.
The YWCA Columbus Family Shelter is a safe haven for families experiencing homelessness. It provides them with a secure place to sleep, three healthy meals a day, and support. With their basic needs met, parents can focus on making progress toward a better future. Most families that the shelter serves are working poor and cannot afford high housing costs. Many are single mothers raising their children on their own.
The Family Center offers a range of services, including emergency shelter, transportation services, housing-search resources, and an employment resource center. For parents, there is also the five-star Step-Up to Quality, rated Safe & Sound, child care program. This program helps parents focus on achieving their employment and housing goals.
The projects funded by the city will enhance interior and exterior security, improve the guest experience in the lavatories, and enhance food service. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
The Young Men’s Christian Association of Central Ohio operates the Van Buren Shelter that houses families, women, and men experiencing homelessness and provides case management, employment resources, workshops, on-site medical providers, educational linkage, meals services, and housing search assistance. The City funding will upgrade safety and security around the interior and exterior of the property. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
Star House operates Central Ohio's only drop-in center for youth, ages 14-24, who are experiencing homelessness. At their drop-in center, youth are provided immediate access to food, clothing, hygiene items, laundry facilities, showers, and a safe place to be, as well as access to therapy, case management, housing, transportation, health care, employment, education, addiction services, legal aid, government benefits, ID cards and more. The City funding will provide upgrades to the security of the interior and exterior of the facility and safety through the installation of a voice evacuation fire alarm system. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
Maryhaven, Inc. operates the Engagement Center, which offers temporary, year-round nightly refuge for publicly inebriated homeless adults. They also run the ROW van, where their outreach workers or safety officers transport individuals to the facility. The Engagement Center supports homeless men and women by providing them with the opportunity to reintegrate into the Columbus community. Recent renovations will enhance both the guest experience and the security of the facility. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
Sanctuary Collective is committed to serving an at-risk and highly vulnerable population of women in crisis. In their three years of operation, they have provided more than 1,200 women with a safe space to access vital and lifesaving resources. They have been intentional about focusing their efforts on the Franklinton community to provide a sanctuary for exploited women in an area that has historically struggled with criminal activity. They have helped women get off the streets and into stable housing. This includes providing access to vital mental and behavioral health services, paving the way for a brighter and more stable future. The City funding will provide upgrades to the exterior of the facility and assist in addressing public safety concerns.
Faith Mission, Inc. operates the Faith Mission single Men’s and Women’s Shelters that houses women, and men experiencing homelessness. Faith Mission provides case management, employment resource centers, veterans services, on-site health center, educational linkage, meals services, housing search assistance, and medical respite. The City funding will provide upgrades to the kitchen of the facility. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
Southeast Inc. operates The Friends of the Homeless (FOH) shelter that provides emergency shelter and transitional housing programs, which support homeless men and women, providing them with the opportunity to reestablish themselves as members of the Columbus community. The City’s funds will be used for improved the guest experience, as well as exterior and interior security. Approval is also requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds in the amount of $350,000.00 are available for these agreements in the Development Taxable Bonds Fund, funds in the amount of $81,918.89 are available in the Affordable Housing Taxable Bond Fund, and funds in the amount of $68,081.11 are available within the Neighborhood Economic Development fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The Young Women’s Christian Association vendor number is 006086 and expires 01/09/26; Young Men’s Christian Association vendor number is 006085 and expires 01/23/26; Star House vendor number is 008897 and expires 03/17/27; Maryhaven, Inc. vendor number is 004267 and expires 09/26/26; Sanctuary Collective vendor number is 034357 and expires 08/30/25; Faith Mission, Inc. vendor number is 011758 and expires 04/09/27; and Southeast Inc. vendor number is 004491 and expires 05/14/27.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget to transfer funds between projects within the Affordable Housing Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into grant agreements with the Young Women’s Christian Association, Young Men’s Christian Association, Star House, Maryhaven, Inc., Sanctuary Collective, Faith Mission, Inc., and Southeast Inc. in an amount up to $500,000.00 to assist in the repair of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; to authorize the expenditure of $350,000.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the transfer of $81,919.00 and expenditure of $81,918.89 from the Affordable Housing Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $68,081.11 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement; and to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior to the establishment of a purchase order. ($500,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the non-profit organizations of Young Women’s Christian Association, Young Men’s Christian Association, Star House, Maryhaven, Inc., Sanctuary Collective, Faith Mission, Inc., and Southeast Inc., require assistance with repair of their emergency shelters serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to establish sufficient authority for this project; and
WHEREAS, an expenditure from the Development Taxable Bond Fund in an amount up to $350,000.00 is authorized; and
WHEREAS, the transfer and expenditure within the Affordable Housing Taxable Bond Fund in an amount up to $81,919.00 is authorized; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $68,081.11 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of the purchase order, starting November 1, 2024, and authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into grant agreements with the aforementioned non-profit organizations in order to assist in the repair of emergency shelters serving homeless individuals as part of the Emergency Shelter Repair Program; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance No. 1907-2024 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7779 / P782012-100000 / Affordable Housing Funds (Voted Carryover) / $668,598.00/ ($81,919.00) / $586,679.00
7779 / P782003-100000 / Emergency Shelter Repair (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $81,919.00/ $81,919.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $81,918.89 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7779 (Affordable Housing Taxable Bond fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements, in an amount up to $500,000.00, with the Young Women’s Christian Association, Young Men’s Christian Association, Star House, Maryhaven, Inc., Sanctuary Collective, Faith Mission, Inc., and Southeast Inc. in order to assist in the repair of emergency shelters serving homeless individuals.
SECTION 4. That the grant agreements authorized in Section 3 of this Ordinance are authorized to reimburse expenditures incurred prior to the purchase order, beginning November 1, 2024; and that the agreements are authorized to advance funds per a schedule to be included in the agreements.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bonds), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing Division), Project P782003-100000 (Emergency Shelter Repair) object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $81,918.89 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7779 (Affordable Housing Taxable Bonds), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing Division), Project P782003-100000 (Emergency Shelter Repair) object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the sum of $68,081.11 is appropriated in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $68,081.11 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-10(Housing Division), in object class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 10. 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 11. 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 12. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administrating said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 13. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.