Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Not-for Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $153,600.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds to coordinate the work of the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) by administering the program, data management, and coordination between the networks of agencies starting August 1, 2023, through September 30, 2025.
The purpose of ERA2 funding is to prevent evictions of tenants from their homes. The City of Columbus is launching a new initiative with ERA2 funding over the next two years in collaboration with the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) to strengthen the community’s homelessness prevention infrastructure.
The City of Columbus is funding 28 non-profits to hire Housing Resource Specialists to work with hard-to-reach and vulnerable families, expectant mothers, and single adults experiencing housing instability. The Community Shelter Board will be leading this community prevention initiative and will coordinate the work of the HPN. City employees do not currently provide this service.
To address a growing need for homelessness prevention, the City of Columbus and the Community Shelter Board (CSB) are expanding the City’s prevention efforts and leading the implementation of a robust, system of approach to preventing homelessness through the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) in Columbus, Ohio. Thanks to ERA2 funding the City has funded 28 Housing Resource Specialists in various nonprofits. CSB will be providing administration, data management and coordination of this network of agencies.
Emergency action is needed to ensure that the critical operations of the HPN program continues and that those experiencing housing instability will be reached and provided coordinated services without interruption to help prevent homelessness.
FISCAL IMPACT: $153,600.00 is available within the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund (Fund 2208).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 004795 and expires on 1/9/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $153,600.00 to coordinate the work of the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) by administering the program, data management, and coordination between the networks of agencies; to authorize the expenditure of $153,600.00 from the ERA2 fund; and declare an emergency. ($153,600.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a growing need for homelessness prevention within the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is launching a new initiative with ERA2 funding in collaboration with the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN); and
WHEREAS, the Community Shelter Board will be leading this community prevention initiative and will coordinate the work of the HPN and those within the network; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to ensure that the critical operations of the HPN program continues and that those experiencing housing instability will be reached and provided coordinated services without interruption to help prevent homelessness, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, 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 authorized to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $153,600.00 to coordinate the work of the Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) by administering the program, data management, and coordination between the networks of agencies.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $153,600.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2208 (ERA2), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration Development), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 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, 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.