Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into three (3) housing counseling not-for-profit service contracts with Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation (Homes on the Hill CDC) / (HOTH), the Columbus Urban League (CUL), and Columbus Housing Partnership, dba Homeport (Homeport) for a combined total of $275,000.00 and to authorize payment of expenses prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Homeport, HOTH, and CUL are non-profit organizations that provide U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling services, including but not limited to, pre-purchase/post-purchase home buyer education, tenant counseling, troubled homeowner counseling, financial literacy, and foreclosure counseling.
Furthermore, the City’s Down Payment Assistance Program and Homeownership Development Programs, pre-purchase education is required. Housing Counseling is also helpful for households in financial distress so that homes and apartments are not lost.
The HUD certified housing counseling agencies have a long and successful track record of providing comprehensive housing counseling services to the community and are the largest provider in the community.
They provide services to Columbus area individuals, families, or groups who are tenants, homeowners, homeless, or homebuyers in need of such services.
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 and the federal certification requirements.
HOTH $125,000.00
Homeport $125,000.00
Columbus Urban League $25,000.00
FISCAL IMPACT: $275,000.000 is available in the 2026 Housing Division’s General Fund budget.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE:
Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation (Homes on the Hill CDC) contract compliance 005144 expires 8/1/2026.
Columbus Housing Partnership, dba Homeport contract compliance 004842 expires 3/5/2028.
The Columbus Urban League contract compliance 006073 expires 8/11/2027.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: The housing counseling agencies are experiencing a funding deficit due to federal funding issues. As this is a reimbursement contract, the vendors are at risk of not servicing the client’s needs for our Homeownership programs. Emergency action is necessary to avoid any disruption in services.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into three (3) housing counseling not-for-profit service contracts with Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation (Homes on the Hill CDC) / (HOTH), the Columbus Urban League (CUL), and Columbus Housing Partnership, dba Homeport (Homeport) in an amount up to $275,000.00, for the purpose of assisting the Department of Development to provide housing counseling services; to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $275,000.00 from the General Fund; and to authorize payment prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 1, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($275,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Homeport, HOTH, and CUL are non-profit organizations that provide U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling services, including but not limited to, pre-purchase/post-purchase home buyer education, tenant counseling, troubled homeowner counseling, financial literacy, and foreclosure counseling.; and
WHEREAS, the HUD certified housing counseling agencies have a long and successful track record of providing comprehensive housing counseling services to the community and are the largest provider in the community; 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, that the expenditure in an amount up to $275,000.00 within the General Fund, is authorized; and
WHEREAS, to authorize the payment of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 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 to enter into these not -for-profit service contracts with the agencies listed above so they may continue to provide housing counseling services for our Homeownership programs without interruption for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; 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 three (3) housing counseling not-for-profit service contracts with Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation (Homes on the Hill CDC) / (HOTH), the Columbus Urban League (CUL), and Columbus Housing Partnership, dba Homeport (Homeport) in an amount up to $275,000.00 for the purpose of assisting the Department of Development to administer housing counseling services and to authorize the expenditure prior to the issuance of the purchase order, beginning January 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Sections 1, the expenditure of $275,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account 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. 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.