Explanation
Experiencing an eviction can cause substantial harm to renters and landlords, including long-term financial and housing stability challenges for renter households. Research has found that mediation can have a positive impact on reducing the incidence and impact of eviction. Columbus Mediation Services of Central Ohio has provided families earning lower incomes in Franklin County with support to help them maintain stable housing by working with partners including the Franklin County Municipal Court, Legal Aid, and Franklin County Jobs and Family Services to reduce the rate of evictions in the County. The program's two strategies include providing tenants at imminent risk of eviction due to a pending eviction with access to specially trained mediators who help targeted tenants and their landlords resolve their eviction related conflict through a "pay and stay" or "voluntary tenant move out” agreement; and providing tenants at high risk of future eviction with a free Eviction Prevention Workshop that educates them about avoiding the 10 biggest tenant mistakes that often lead to eviction. Community Mediation Services anticipates they will serve 2,200 tenants, 1,765 tenants with a pending eviction, over the coming year.
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio in an amount up to $30,000.00 and authorizes an expenditure of up to $30,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($30,000.00).
Emergency action is required because upfront funding is needed to ensure that the program can be effectively implemented without financial constraints for operations and supplies.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund ($30,000.00).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 004914
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio in an amount up to $30,000.00; to authorize an expenditure of $30,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($30,000.00); and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus faces a surge of eviction filings that have long-term consequences on households with eviction filings; and
WHEREAS, Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio provides critical resources to reduce the likelihood and impact of eviction filings; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $30,000 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this agreement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Community Medication Services of Central Ohio to support their ongoing eviction prevention support and outreach activities and City support is needed in order to award the funds, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $30,000.00, or so much thereof is hereby authorized, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.