Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc., dba Homeport in an amount up to $150,000.00 to support the Resident Services Program (RSP) and authorize payments beginning April 1, 2021.
Homeport’s Resident Services Program model supports Columbus area residents by utilizing trained and knowledgeable Service Coordinators to connect them to resources in the community and teach them how to effectively navigate the local system of services designed to help low- and moderate-income families regain financial stability and build financial security. Homeport’s Resident Services Service Coordinators are available to the more than 5,800 Homeport apartment, lease-option, and senior affordable housing rental residents and aids residents in imminent threat of eviction with emergency financial assistance paired with financial counseling and coaching, service referrals, and priority access to community resources.
Homeport’s staff members have vast experience helping economically vulnerable families lower cost burdens in their family budgets to increase economic security. In 2020, in light of COVID-19, RSP focused on food insecurity and eviction prevention while providing over 600 family connections for those in need of stability-increasing services. These efforts directly prevented 237 families from eviction and provided nearly $475,000 in emergency financial assistance.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption in service for at-risk residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this expenditure is allocated from the Emergency Human Services Fund ($150,000.00).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 004842 and expires on 5/1/2022.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc., dba Homeport, in an amount up to $150,000.00, to support the Resident Services Program; to authorize payments beginning April 1, 2021; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Homeport’s wealth of experience provides economically vulnerable families support to help lower cost burdens in their family budgets to increase economic security; and
WHEREAS, the Resident Services Program offers aid to more than 5,800 Homeport apartment, lease-option, and senior affordable housing rental residents; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc., dba Homeport to support the Resident Services Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with Homeport in order to avoid any disruption in service for at-risk residents and to preserve 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 ended December 31, 2021, the sum of $150,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2231 (Emergency Human Services Fund), Subfund 223125, Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc., dba Homeport to support the Resident Services Program in an amount up to $150,000.00 and authorize payments beginning April 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 (Emergency Human Services Fund), subfund 223125, Dept-Div 4401 (Administration) Object Class 03 (Services), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.