Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $264,000.00 of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) and authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Not For Profit Service Contract with Maryhaven Inc. for the purpose of establishing a team of engagement specialists that will be dedicated to providing outreach services to unsheltered residents with the highest needs within the City of Columbus. The supportive services that will be provided will go to those individuals that meet HUD’s definition of chronic homelessness. This legislation also authorizes the expenditure prior to the execution of the purchase order from December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029. There will be future modifications to this ordinance to increase funding through the period of performance. The intent is for this to be a one-year agreement with the option to renew/modify annually for three additional one-year periods.
This ordinance also authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $21,150.00 within the Income Tax Set-a-Side Fund and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Maryhaven Inc. for the purpose of providing operational support to the CORE Team, which will include but is not limited to technology items/services, engagement tools, and food and non-alcoholic beverages that will be provided to unsheltered residents in which the engagement specialists are engaging with. This council finds that these food and non-alcoholic beverage items are considered an operational cost of this non-profit organization and are authorized with the passage and effective date of Ordinance 2925-2025.
Funding for this grant agreement will be advanced on a predetermined schedule. Advancement of funds is needed assist in getting the program operational as soon as possible. The first advance will occur after confirmation of the Purchase Order. Before the second advance is made, the agency shall provide reports and documentation indicating how the funds were used to fulfill the scope of services within the grant agreement. This legislation also authorizes the expenditure prior to the execution of the purchase order from December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029. There will be future modifications to this ordinance to increase funding through the period of performance. The intent is for this to be a one-year agreement with the option to renew/modify annually for three additional one-year periods.
The City of Columbus is currently facing an increase in unsheltered homelessness. This growing crisis has not only affected individuals and families experiencing homelessness, but it has also created challenges for first responders, city employees, community members, and outreach workers who interact with these residents. Recognizing the significance of this issue, the City is launching a new pilot program: the “CORE Team” (Columbus Outreach & Resource Engagement team). This team will consist of engagement specialists from Southeast, Inc. and Maryhaven, Inc., who will work in close coordination with the City’s Homeless Response Team to expand assistance and engagement for unsheltered residents. This team will assist the city’s most vulnerable population in finding safe, secure, appropriate, and stable living environments tailored to their needs. In addition, the specialist will connect them with physical and behavioral healthcare needs.
This program is intended to be funded annually through December 31, 2029 with this organization based on funding availability from both the HOME-ARP grant as well as other city funding sources. This initiative is not just about addressing immediate needs but fostering long-term stability and wellness for Columbus’ most vulnerable residents. Focusing on addressing the root causes of homelessness and supporting successful transitions into stable housing, the program aims to create a brighter future for this community.
This legislation represents appropriation for a part of the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan portion of the City’s 2021 HUD Annual Action Plan which was amended, per Ordinance 0459-2023.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is necessary to ensure the CORE Team can begin providing services before winter weather, immediately supporting unsheltered residents with the highest needs.
These agreements are in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 that relate to not-for-profit service contracts and grants. The services included in the not-for-profit agreement cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current responsibility and capacity to provide.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is CC-004267 and expires on 09/26/2026
Fiscal Impact: $264,000.00 is available from and within the HOME-ARP grant (G442101) and $21,1500.00 is available from and within the Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund 100099.
Title
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $264,000.00 of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME-ARP) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Not For Profit Service Contract with Maryhaven Inc., in an amount up to $264,000.00 to establish a team of engagement specialists to provide supportive services for those that are deemed eligible under the HOME-ARP guidelines; authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $21,150.00 within the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund; authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Maryhaven Inc., in an amount up to $21,150.00 to provide operational support; authorizes food and non-alcoholic beverages to be considered an operational cost of this non-profit organization; authorizes the expenditures prior to the purchase order beginning December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029; to authorize the advancement of a portion of the grant agreement in a predetermined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($285,150.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a participating jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is the recipient of a one-time grant of $16,433,138.00 from the U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD) through the American Rescue Plan Act and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME-ARP) ; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for supportive services for those individuals that are defined as homeless based on HUD’s definition of chronic homelessness.
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus continues to look for new investments in housing and programs to assist people experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS, there has been an increase in unsheltered homelessness within the City of Columbus and the establishment of the “CORE Team” to work alongside first responders and the Homlessness Response Team will provide intensive engagement to high need individuals as they attempt to secure suitable housing as well as physical and mental health needs; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to enter into a Subrecipient Not For Profit Service contract with Maryhaven Inc. to provide the supportive services that will assist this very vulnerable population utilizing HOME-ARP funding; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to enter into a grant agreement with Maryhaven Inc. to provide operational support that will include technology, engagement tools, as well as food and or non-alcoholic beverages for those individuals’ experiencing homelessness and those expenses are considered an operational item; and
WHEREAS, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $285,150.00 is necessary to provide supportive services and operational support; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to authorize expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029, however food and non-alcoholic beverage related items will be authorized as eligible operational items with the passage of Ordinance 2925-2025; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and 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 the subrecipient not-for-profit service agreement as well as enter into a grant agreement with Maryhaven Inc. to ensure the CORE Team can begin providing services before winter weather, immediately supporting unsheltered residents with the highest needs, 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 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 ending December 31, 2025, the sum of $264,000.00 is appropriated within Fund 2201 (HOME-ARP), from Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), G442101 (HOME-ARP), object class 03 (Professional Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $264,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2201 (HOME-ARP), Dept-Div 4412 (Housing Stability), G442101 (HOME-ARP), object class 03 (Professional Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Subrecipient Not For Profit Service Contract with Maryhaven Inc. to provide supportive services establish a team of engagement specialists to provide supportive services for those that are deemed eligible under the HOME-ARP guidelines in an amount up to $264,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute a grant agreement with the following not-for-profit agency Maryhaven Inc., in an amount up to $21,150.00 to provide operating support which will help support the CORE Team with technology, engagement tools, as well as food and or non-alcoholic beverages for the homeless residents in which they serve.
SECTION 5. That the reimbursement of food and or non-alcoholic beverage related items is considered an operational cost of this non-profit organization and is authorized with the passage and effective date of Ordinance 2925-2025.
SECTION 6. That for the purpose stated in Section 4, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $21,150.00 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 7. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 related to awarding not-for-profit service agreements and grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That the expenditures are authorized for both agreements prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029. However, the food and or non-alcoholic beverage expenditures are only eligible for reimbursement beginning with the passage of Ordinance 2925-2025.
SECTION 9. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 10. 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 11. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 12.. 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.