Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $111,555.38 of the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)-CV grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to authorize the Director of the Department of Development (DOD) to execute a Subrecipient Agreement - Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Equitas Health, Inc., in an amount up to $111,555.38, to provide rental assistance and supportive services to low income individuals and/or households living with HIV/AIDS and to process payment for expenses incurred since January 1, 2021.
Historically, the HOPWA grant (including HOPWA-CV) has been managed and administrated by Columbus Public Health (CPH). Starting with the 2022 grant year funds, the annual HOPWA grant has been managed and administered by the Department of Development (DOD), Division of Housing. As a result of this ordinance, DOD will also manage and administer the remaining COVID-CV funds so they are expended before the federal deadline.
In early 2022, CPH put forth Ordinance 2192-2020 to enter into a contract with Equitas Health, Inc. to provide HOPWA services funded by HOPWA-CV funds. Only a portion of the funds were expended by the time HOPWA transferred to DOD. After the program was transferred, CPH cancelled the purchase order. The cancelled funds will be transferred from CPH to DOD and DOD shall execute a contract to pay some invoices that had not been paid by CPH’s contract and to pay for expenses incurred under DOD’s contract.
Upon review of HOPWA-CV program needs in DOD, it was determined that there was no longer an extensive need for short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but additional rental assistance and supportive services would benefit this community in response to the pandemic. This action required a substantial amendment request to HUD and was approved on July 24, 2023.
This legislation represents appropriation for a part of the HOPWA portion of the 2023 Action Plan, per Ordinance 3353-2022, as well as the approved substantial amendment from HUD dated July 24, 2023.
Emergency action is requested to address the continued impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency and to provide additional rental and supportive services to HOPWA eligible households’ experiencing challenges as a result of COVID-19 hereby preserving the housing, health, and/or safety of low income individuals or households living with HIV/AIDS and to expend the funds before the deadline for federal expenditures (November 18, 2023).
Contract Compliance: The vendor number is 004721 and contract compliance end date is 01/25/2024.
Fiscal Impact: $111,555.38 will be transferred within the HOPWA-CV Grant (G502055) from CPH (Dept. 50) to DOD (Dept. 44).
Title
To authorize the transfer of funds within the HOPWA-CV grant in the General Government Grant Fund from Columbus Public Health to the Department of Development, in the amount of $111,555.38; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $111,555.38 of the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)-CV grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to execute a Subrecipient Agreement - Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Equitas Health, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $111,555.38, for expenses incurred starting January 1, 2021; and to declare an emergency ($111,555.38). (AMENDED BY ORD. 2820-2023 PASSED OCTOBER 30, 2023) BA
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 the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)-CV grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council has approved the 2023 Action Plan, per Ordinance 3353-2022; and
WHEREAS, Equitas Health, Inc. is a provider that specializes exclusively in assisting income eligible individuals/households living with HIV/AIDS in the eight county Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area (EMSA); and
WHEREAS, the HOPWA program was transferred from CPH to DOD, including responsibility for unexpended HOPWA-CV funds; and
WHEREAS, DOD desires to execute an agreement with Equitas Health, Inc. to provide assistance to HOPWA eligible households experiencing challenges as a result of COVID-19 and to expend the funds before the deadline for federal expenditures (November 18, 2023) ; and
WHERAAS, a substantial amendment was required to provide payment for the expenses incurred that had not been paid by CPH; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to address the continued impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency and to provide additional rental and supportive services to HOPWA eligible households’ experiencing challenges as a result of COVID-19 hereby preserving the housing, health, and/or safety of low income individuals or households living with HIV/AIDS and to expend the funds before the deadline for federal expenditures (November 18, 2023), as such immediate action is necessary for the 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 transfer of $2,905.42 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), from Dept-Div 50-01, Project G502055 (HOPWA-CV), object class 01 (Personnel) to Dept-Div 4-10 (Housing), Project G502055 (HOPWA-CV), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $108,649.96 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), from Dept-Div 50-01, Project G502055 (HOPWA-CV), object class 03 (Services) to Dept-Div 4-10 (Housing), Project G502055 (HOPWA-CV), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $111,555.38 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), from Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), G502055 (HOPWA-CV), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute a Subrecipient Agreement - Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Equitas Health, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $111,555.38 to provide rental assistance and supportive services to low income individuals and/or households living with HIV/AIDS and to process payment for expenses incurred since January 1, 2021.
SECTION 5. That 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 6. 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 7. That 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 8. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.