Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement in the amount up to $3,033,898.00 with The Tony R. Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation, a non-profit corporation, to act as a Fiscal Manager for the disbursement of funds to eligible recipients as part of the department’s Columbus Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI). This agreement is needed as funding from the Emergency Rental Assistance2 program ends September 30, 2025 and the city has a need to continue to provide eviction and homelessness prevention services to vulnerable residents of Columbus. The RHI program will provide rental, utility, and other services to residents facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness in the area who qualify for assistance.
Tony R. Wells Foundation will act as fiscal manager for the RHI program to provide rental and utility assistance to residents in the local area who qualify for the assistance as determined by the applications manager Greenwood 360 LLC. Disbursement of payments will be made directly to landlords, utility companies, and other service providers on behalf of eligible recipients. RHI will be serving an estimated 600 households over a seven-month period as the contract will be from September 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. There will be a need to advance funding on a predetermined schedule for this program.
Emergency action is requested to assist tenants facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness with emergency rental assistance.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 038668 and expires 5/22/2027.
Fiscal Impact: $3,033,898.00 is available within the Income Tax Set Aside funds (ITSA).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in the amount up to $3,033,898.00 with the Tony R. Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to act as a Fiscal Manager for the disbursement of funds to eligible recipients of the Columbus Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI); to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $3,033,898.00 within the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund; to authorize the advancement of funding on a predetermined schedule; to authorize the payment of eligible expenses beginning September 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 the term of the contract; and to declare an emergency. ($3,033,898.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development entered into a grant agreement with The Tony R. Wells Foundation; and
WHEREAS, The Tony R. Wells Foundation is acting as a Fiscal Manager for the disbursement of funds as part of the department’s Columbus Resilient Housing Initiative; and
WHEREAS, funding is needed to assist tenants facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness;
WHEREAS, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $3,033,898.00 is authorized within the ITSA; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule as well as authorize the grant agreement along with its expenditures be effective September 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 the term of the contract ; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is necessary to enter into a grant agreement with The Tony R. Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to allow for additional emergency rental assistance funds for tenants facing housing instability, eviction, and potential homelessness as such immediate action is necessary all for the immediate 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 hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Tony R. Wells Foundation to act as a fiscal manager for the disbursement of funds to eligible recipients of the department’s Columbus Resilient Housing Initiative, in an amount up to $3,033,898.00, to provide rental, utility, and other services to residents facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness in the area who qualify for assistance.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1., the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $3,033,898.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Income Tax Set Aside Subfund (100099), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the agreement effective date begins September 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 and the request to advance funds on a predetermined schedule is also authorized.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 5. 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 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 the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure which 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 it.