Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with The Columbus Foundation in support of its BINS Youth Homelessness Storage pilot project.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the homelessness issues that Columbus is facing, including the challenges faced by homeless youths. In seeking to achieve economic stability through work - a concern that is even greater now given the rising unemployment associated with the COVID-19 pandemic - homeless youths often cite the anxiety stemming from having to balance work with keeping personal belongings safe while living in unstable environments.
The youth homelessness storage pilot project is designed to help homeless teens and young adults (ages 18-24) work with dignity on their path to stability. Providing a safe place to store personal belongings while working allows a youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to sustain work long enough to begin the process of moving toward stability. Expected outcomes are active usage of storage, change in work flexibility, ability to take advantage of time to meet basic needs without the burden of unsafely stored belongings.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the CARES Act fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to deploy the resources necessary without delay to initiate the BINS storage pilot.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with The Columbus Foundation in support of its BINS Youth Homelessness Storage pilot project; to authorize a transfer of appropriations within and an expenditure from the CARES Act Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($13,533.00) (AMENDED BY ORD. 2117-2020; PASSED 9/21/2020)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the homelessness issues that Columbus is facing, including the challenges faced by homeless youths; and
WHEREAS, homeless youths often cite the anxiety stemming from having to balance work with keeping personal belongings safe while living in unstable environments; and
WHEREAS, providing a safe place to store personal belongings while working allows a youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to sustain work long enough to begin the process of moving toward stability; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding to support The Columbus Foundation's BINS pilot project is necessary to address the demand for services supporting the homeless population, demands that have increased as a function of the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to authorize City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Foundation to support its BINS pilot project to provide assistance for the homeless population, for the preservation of the public, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with The Columbus Foundation in support of its BINS Youth Homelessness Storage pilot project.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer appropriations within the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $13,533.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.