Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Grant Agreement with The Homeless Families Foundation, one of seven not-for-profit social service agencies that were awarded within the 2023 Flourish Grant as part of the department’s Elevate 2.0 program. Additional ordinances will be forthcoming as part of this award for the other agencies. The total awarded to these agencies is an amount up to $50,000.00 for a total award amount of $350,000.00 for the program. The term of each Grant Agreement shall be from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
On September 20, 2023, the Department of Development disseminated the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2023 Flourish Grant, to the 112 Non-Profit agencies within the Elevate! Grant Program. The NOFA extended an invitation to these organizations to collaborate and apply for grants of up to $50,000.00 for fostering innovative partnerships to improve and strengthen the non-profits’ capacities which then will better serve their clients. The NOFA specified there was a total of $200,000.00 available. Later, $150,000.00 in additional funding was reallocated within the Department of Development, expanding the total funds available to $350,000.00.
In response, a total of eighteen proposals involving 43 non-profit organizations were received, collectively requesting $899,953.00. These submissions were subsequently narrowed down to 16, and each collaborating partner was invited to present their ideas during FlourishFest '23. This two-day event provided a platform for each collaboration to pitch their proposals and receive feedback from an audience comprising reviewers, fellow applicants, and guests. Each collaboration was instructed to incorporate that feedback into their final proposals, which were due on October 16, 2023. A seven-member review team was assembled and tasked with evaluating and scoring these proposals.
The proposal received from The Homeless Families Foundation, collaborating with Columbus Diaper Bank and Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, was one of the seven proposals selected by the review team to be funded by this initiative. The agencies will work together to support long-term housing and financial stability and cultivate transformational change for low-income and housing insecure families through an expansion of holistic, wrap-around services through the HFF Family Stability Program. The proposed funding will be allocated directly to The Homeless Families Foundation, but will be utilized by all agencies involved to further their collaboration and provide services to their constituents.
Ordinance 3414-2023, passed by City Council on January 8, 2024, authorized a grant agreement of $50,000.00 from the department’s 2023 General Fund budget in error.
This legislation will authorize the repeal of Ordinance 3414-2023.
Emergency action is necessary to promptly execute the grant agreement with The Homeless Families Foundation in light of the previous ordinance error and to prevent further delay.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this expenditure available within the 2024 General Fund budget, in an amount up to $50,000.00, and is contingent on the passage of the 2024 Operating Budget, Ordinance 3011-2023.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 025439 and the expiration date is 9/7/2025
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement in an amount up to $50,000.00 with The Homeless Families Foundation, one of seven not-for-profit, social service agencies awarded funding, for the provision of human services programming for a 12 month period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, as part of the 2023 Flourish Grant; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the agreement; to authorize the expenditure of up to $50,000.00; to repeal ordinance 3414-2023; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3414-2023, passed by City Council on January 8, 2024, authorized a grant agreement of $50,000.00 from the department’s 2023 General Fund budget in error; and
WHEREAS, it is now necessary to repeal Ordinance 3414-2023; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development disseminated the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2023 Flourish Grant, to the 112 Non-Profit agencies within the Elevate! Grant Program. The NOFA extended an invitation to these organizations to collaborate and apply for grants of up to $50,000.00 for fostering innovative partnerships; and
WHEREAS, the Department received 18 applications with requests for funding totaling $899,953.00, of which 7 programs were selected for funding in 2024; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will be funded utilizing Elevate 2.0 General Funds; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreements will include advance payments to the organizations; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual 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 grant agreement with The Homeless Families Foundation to support long-term housing and financial stability and cultivate transformational change for low-income and housing insecure families and to promptly execute the grant agreement in light of the previous ordinance error and to prevent further delay, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That it is necessary to repeal Ordinance 3414-2023, passed by City Council on January 8, 2024, authorizing a grant agreement of $50,000.00 from the department’s 2023 General Fund budget in error.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Development is authorized to execute a grant agreement in an amount up to $50,000.00 with The Homeless Families Foundation, a not-for-profit, social service agency, for the provision of human services programming for a 12 month period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, as part of the 2023 Flourish Grant; and to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule during the term of the grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 05 (Other) to Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), per the account 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.