Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $117,000.00 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund to the Department of Development and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board (CSB), a non-profit organization, for the Outreach Program. The contract will provide $117,000 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund for the purpose of continuing and enhancing the work of the Community Shelter Board with regard to reaching out to individuals who are living on the streets. CSB will subcontract with Maryhaven to oversee the Maryhaven Collaborative Outreach Team (MCOT) which serves 250 people annually at a total cost of $227,000. MCOT provides assertive outreach at sites where homeless persons congregate, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing. Additionally, the Community Shelter Board offers access to benefits and rental assistance as well as support and assistance during city and county-led camp remediation. Statistics show that without the programming provided by the MCOT there are more encampments and increased street homelessness with a net result of increased criminal activity and increased hospitalization, medical treatment, incarceration and police intervention - all costly resources.
The Community Shelter Board has also requested $75,000 from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and the remainder of the funding gap has been requested from United Way of Central Ohio.
Emergency action is requested so that the Community Shelter Board and Maryhaven can continue to provide these services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this contract are available in the Public Safety Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of continuing the Outreach Program which includes assertive outreach at homeless encampments, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $117,000.00 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($117,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds from the unappropriated balance of the Public Safety Initiatives Fund to the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board (CSB), a non-profit organization, for the purpose of continuing and enhancing the work of the Maryhaven Collaborative Outreach Team. The contract will provide $117,000 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund for the purpose of continuing and enhancing the work the Community Shelter Board does with regard to reaching out to individuals who are living on the streets; and
WHEREAS, CSB's Outreach Program serves 250 people annually at a cost of $227,000 in a subcontract with Maryhaven. The programming includes assertive outreach at sites where homeless persons congregate, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing. Additionally, the Community Shelter Board offers access to benefits and rental assistance as well as support and assistance during city and county-led camp remediation; and
WHEREAS, statistics show that without the programming provided by the Outreach Program there are more encampments and increased street homelessness with a net result of increased criminal activity and increased hospitalization, medical treatment, incarceration and police intervention - all costly resources; 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 to enter into contract in order to continue to provide these essential services to the homeless without interruption, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; 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 contract with the Community Shelter Board, a non-profit organization, for the purpose of continuing the City’s support of the Outreach Program which includes assertive outreach at homeless encampments, pro-active engagement, referral to medical and behavioral healthcare and linkage to shelter and housing.
SECTION 2. 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, 2016, the sum of $117,000 is appropriated in Fund 1000 Public Safety Initiatives Fund, Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $117,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 Public Safety Initiatives Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is entered into pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.