Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless to replenish emergency supplies for the City’s unsheltered population. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to the Coalition to support these efforts, as the organization does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
The proposed agreement with Council will allow Columbus Coalition for the Homeless to work with other organizations to purchase survival items for unhoused community members impacted by the flooding and storms. Many unhoused individuals had belongings swept away during the extreme weather. The Coalition is partnering with organizations working directly with people impacted, and funding will allow it to purchase items for caseworkers that are in the Coalition’s larger network such as Southeast Healthcare, Maryhaven, The Open Shelter, CD4AP, and others.
Council is proposing support of $20,000.00 for these efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: $20,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for the Coalition to immediately replenish emergency supplies for unsheltered residents from recent damaging storms.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, in support of emergency supply replenishment for the City’s unsheltered population; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to assist unsheltered individuals with emergency supplies; and
WHEREAS, our homeless population in Columbus has continued to grow into 2026, with unsheltered homelessness increasing by 43% since last year; and
WHEREAS, many emergency supplies are needed following damaging storms and extreme weather of the past month; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Coalition for the Homeless assists in providing these supplies to address the needs of unsheltered residents; and
WHEREAS, Council is proposing support of $20,000.00 for efforts to address this issue; and
WHEREAS, $20,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's Office in that it is necessary for the Clerk to enter into an agreement with the Coalition in order to immediately replenish emergency supplies for unsheltered residents from recent damaging storms, 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 the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into an advanced payment grant agreement with Columbus Coalition for the Homeless in support of emergency supply replenishment for the City’s unsheltered population.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $20,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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. 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.