Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contracts with LifeCare Alliance in an amount up to $155,000.00 to administer the CHORES home repair program, on behalf of the City of Columbus and to authorize payment of expenses starting April 1, 2026. This contract may be modified in the future to add additional funding depending on budget availability.
LifeCare Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides home repair services to low/moderate income and area median income residents. Residents eligible for the program will consist of elderly (over 60 years old) or disabled AND 80% Low Moderate Income (LMI). Eligible households include families/households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) as determined annually by HUD with adjustments for smaller and larger families/households.
The not-for-profit agency will be responsible for general program administration, advertising, customer relations, applicant screening and qualification, project management, contractor oversight and reporting. Examples of responsibilities include, but are not limited to, intake, income qualification verification, and retention of licensed contractors to perform minor electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and masonry repairs.
The services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees as they are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
The Department of Development advertised a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)/Request for Proposal (RFP) for the CHORES program from February 13, 2025, through March 7, 2025, on the City’s Vendor Services and Bonfire websites. The City received three (3) proposals. The proposals were evaluated and scored in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. The Director of Development selected to enter into two (2) not-for-profit service contracts one with LifeCare Alliance and the other Central Community House of Columbus. This year the department is only entering into agreement with LifeCare Alliance.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency exists as the original contract expired prior to funding determinations being made by the Department and has caused a delay in this crucial program and is impacting the health and safety as it relates to home repairs for our senior and disabled homeowners.
FISCAL IMPACT: $155,000.000 is available within the Department of Development’s 2025 General Fund budget.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: CC006078; expires 09/25/2027
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with LifeCare Alliance in an amount up to $155,000.00 for the purpose of assisting the Department of Development to administer home repair program services; to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $155,000.00 within the General Fund budget; and to authorize payment of expenses starting April 1, 2026; and declare an emergency. ($155,000.00)
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 requires home repair program services; and
WHEREAS, the department advertised a request for proposal/notice for financial award for the for the CHORES 2025 program. Three proposals were received and the evaluation committee found LifeCare Alliance and Central Community House of Columbus are able to perform the work; and
WHEREAS, the department chose to only award LifeCare Alliance the contract in 2026; and
WHEREAS, the services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees as they are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure in an amount up to $155,000.00 within the Department of Development’s General Fund budget is authorized and a future modification may be submitted to increase funding pending budget availability; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to authorize payments for services starting April 1, 2026; 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 a not-for-profit contracts with LifeCare Alliance to provide program administration, advertising, customer relations, applicant screening and qualifications, project management and other services for the CHORES home repair program services for the City’s elderly and disabled population and any further delays to this program will further impact the health and safety to this vulnerable population, all for the immediate preservation of 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 is authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with LifeCare Alliance, a not-for-profit corporation, in an amount up to $155,000.00 for the purpose of assisting the Department of Development to home repair program services and authorizing expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting April 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $155,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That these contracts are awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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.