Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Housing Partnership Inc., dba Homeport, for housing counseling services in an amount up to $125,000.00 and to authorize payment of expenses starting January 1, 2025.
Homeport, a non-profit organization, provides U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling services, including but is not limited to, pre-purchase/post-purchase home buyer education, tenant counseling, troubled homeowner counseling, financial literacy, and foreclosure counseling.
Homeport has a long and successful track record of providing comprehensive housing counseling services to the community and is the largest provider in the community. For the City’s Down Payment Assistance Program and Homeownership Development Programs, pre-purchase education is required. Housing Counseling is also helpful for households in financial distress so that homes and apartments are not lost.
The services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees as they are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 004842 and expires 3/13/2026.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the General Fund, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund (100099).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Housing Partnership Inc., dba Homeport, for housing counseling services; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $125,000.00 from the from the General Fund, Income Tax Set-Aside Subfund; and to authorize payment of expenses starting January 1, 2025. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Housing Partnership Inc., dba Homeport, to provide housing counseling services and to authorize payment of expenses beginning January 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Homeport is a non-profit organization with the capacity to provide housing counseling services; and
WHEREAS, the services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees as they are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide; and
WHEREAS, that the appropriation and expenditure of up to $125,000.00 from the General Fund, Income Tax Set-Aside Subfund is authorized; and
WHEREAS, to authorize payments for services starting January 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to enter into contract with Columbus Housing Partnership Inc., dba Homeport, to allow program services to continue without interruption; 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 enter into a contract with Columbus Housing Partnership Inc., dba Homeport, in an amount up to $125,000.00 and is authorized to make payment for expenses starting January 1, 2025, for the purpose of providing housing counseling services.
SECTION 3. 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 125,000.00 is hereby appropriated in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Subfund 100099 (Income Tax Set Aside), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.