Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City is a participating jurisdiction receiving federal funds under the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The regulations of the program provide that funds may be used to administer a tenant-based rental assistance program.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Southeast, Inc for the purpose of implementing and monitoring the program on behalf of the City. The contract will provide $161,000.00 of HOME Funds. The Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA) will use HOME funds to provide rental subsidies and security deposits for chronically homeless persons participating in the Rebuilding Lives initiative. Rebuilding Lives enables the development and maintenance of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons.
HOME Fund regulations for TBRA are very similar to HUD's Section 8 Program. The Southeast, Inc will lease housing units for the Rebuilding Lives program. Southeast, Inc will maintain and operate the housing unit and related facilities to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing in accordance with the HUD Housing Quality Standards. The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) will inspect units. The City's Consolidated Action Plan for 2010 contains TBRA housing preference priorities for chronically homeless persons.
Emergency action is requested in order to ensure rental subsidies are in place for 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure are allocated from the Rebuilding Lives set-aside within the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund allocation of the 2011 HOME Funds.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Southeast, Inc to provide tenant-based rental assistance; to authorize the expenditure of $161,000.00 from the HOME Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($161,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is the recipient of HOME Investment Partnerships funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the City is a partner in the Rebuilding Lives initiative to provide permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless persons; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to assist the Rebuilding Lives initiative by establishing a tenant-based rental assistance program; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to enter into a contract with the Southeast, Inc in order to administer and operate the tenant-based rental assistance program; and
WHEREAS, there is an immediate need for tenant-based rental assistance to continue rent subsidies for participants in the Rebuilding Lives Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract with the Southeast, Inc to permit the payment of tenant-based rental assistance to begin immediately, 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 be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Southeast, Inc to provide tenant-based rental assistance.
Section 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1 the expenditure of $161,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Development, Department No. 44-10, Fund 201, Grant No. 458001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 440231.
Section 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended.
Section 4. 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.