Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 from the Department’s Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund to support winter warming services that will help keep unhoused individuals safe during dangerous weather.
The 2025-26 Winter Response begins December 1, 2025 and ends April 15, 2026, adjustments may be made to the dates depending on weather patterns and partner capacity. Services and plans will include but not be limited to the following three components:
Daytime Warming Centers
Unhoused residents will be able to utilize libraries, recreation centers, and a handful of churches to stay warm during the day this winter. Homeless outreach teams will focus their engagement at high traffic locations, working to enroll unhoused residents in street outreach if they are interested and help develop a housing plan with them.
Overnight Shelter
Each year, Community Shelter Board develops a plan to handle winter overflow within its crisis response system. Due to a tight housing market and reduced outflow from the shelters, it is worthwhile to provide residents with additional choices during the winter months. Temporary seasonal beds in congregate and semi-congregate facilities will be open on a rolling calendar beginning in November of 2025.
Extreme Cold Events
During level 3 snow emergencies, shelters keep individuals inside and remain open all day. Additionally, homeless outreach teams conduct specific, concentrated engagement in an attempt to get individuals inside ahead of extreme weather events. CRPD Community Recreation Centers will open five regional Community Recreation Centers and will extend operating hours to accommodate those who need a warm place in extreme cold (below 20 degrees).
Expenses to support the three components include but are not limited to staff salaries and benefits, facility rentals and security, food as part of “operating costs”, material assistance for individuals at the facilities, COTA passes, and administrative costs.
This ordinance will authorize payment of expenses prior to purchase order execution as the term of this contract will begin October 1, 2024 and run through June 1, 2026 in order to reimburse for costs incurred during the previous winter response season in addition to the services being provided during the current season.
Emergency action is requested to allow Community Shelter Board to provide warming services to unhoused individuals as the temperatures are dropping in the winter months.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 004795 and expires on 12/10/2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for the purpose of supporting winter warming services; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $2,000,000.00 from the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund; to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior the approval of the purchase order, including food and non-alcoholic beverages, as “operating costs” to serve the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need in the community to provide winter warming services to unhoused individuals to protect them from dangerous winter weather; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development seeks to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 to address this need; and
WHEREAS, Community Shelter Board will coordinate the effort with other nonprofit partners including shelters, libraries, recreation centers, and churches; and
WHEREAS, there will be at minimum three components to the program: Daytime Warming Centers, Overnight Shelter, and Extreme Cold Events; and
WHEREAS, expenses to support the three components include but are not limited to staff salaries and benefits, facility rentals and security, food and material assistance for clients at the facilities, COTA passes, and administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages as “operating costs”, to serve the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $2,000,000.00 from the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance will authorize payment of expenses, excluding food and non-alcoholic beverages, prior to purchase order beginning October 1, 2024 to reimburse for costs incurred during the previous winter response season in addition to the services being provided during the current season; and
WHEREAS, food and non-alcoholic beverages incurred prior to purchase order execution will be permitted as of the date of the passage of this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Community Shelter Board to allow for the execution of the contract by the Director immediately to implement programming prior to winter, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; 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 Not for Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 to support warming center programs for the unhoused population during the winter months, including food and material assistance provided to clients.
SECTION 2. That expenses incurred prior to the establishment of the purchase order, excluding food and non-alcoholic beverages, are permitted beginning October 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. That food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses incurred prior to the establishment of the purchase order are authorized with the passage and effective date of Ordinance No. 2925-2025.
SECTION 4. 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 $2,000,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2229 (Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2229 (Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. The authorization of $188,000 to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages as “operating costs”, for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity which constitutes a proper public purpose is hereby authorized.
SECTION 7. This Not-for-Profit Service Contract is entered into under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.29 as City staff do not have the resources to perform the services provided.
SECTION 8. 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 9. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 10. 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 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.