Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with The Homeless Families Foundation (HFF) in an amount up to $90,000.00 for vacated tenant services. HFF helps to provide temporary accommodation for those who are vacated from their homes due to emergency conditions. This legislation also authorizes the payment of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning April 1, 2026. Additionally, this program may include reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages for participants. The expenditure of such items is hereby deemed to be a valid public purpose in that such purchase will address the immediate needs of program participants beginning with the period of performance of the contract beginning April 1, 2026. These expenditures are authorized in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329 as the food and/or non-alcoholic beverage expenditures are part of the standard operating costs for the non-profit organization serving these vulnerable residents.
When a structure is deemed not fit for human habitation by the City of Columbus through departments such as Building and Zoning Services, the City must require the occupants to vacate the unit until it is brought into compliance. This disruptive displacement can have a cascading effect on residents’ well-being by disturbing employment or education transportation, destabilizing social connections, and significantly increasing stress. Due to the current housing crisis, securing new housing quickly is also extremely difficult especially for our most vulnerable residents who are more likely to receive an order to vacate. These vacated residents often need immediate assistance to avoid homelessness, including emergency temporary housing, rental assistance, help in locating housing and other additional support to promote stability.
The goal of the Displaced Tenant Services program is to mitigate the effects of disruptive displacement. This program provides relocation support to residents who are emergency vacated by the City of Columbus by:
• Offering reasonable and necessary temporary housing during the displacement, as needed
• Securing an alternative, permanent housing option OR the tenant returning to the original unit
• Providing all essential services to accomplish the above
The Homeless Families Foundation acts as a Displaced Tenant Services’ temporary housing coordinator, organizing temporary housing and essential services for tenants while providing housing focused case management services. HFF collaborates with the program’s Fiscal Manager to pay for the hotels at the time of the emergency as well as collaborates with the entire program team that consists of Columbus Public Health Social Workers, Relocation Service Contractors, and the Department of Development’s Division of Housing Stability. These services provided within this not-for-profit service contract cannot be completed by existing city employees because they are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity level.
The agreement authorizes the payment of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning April 1, 2026. Additionally, this program may include reasonable food for participants of the program. The expenditure of such items is deemed to be a valid public purpose in that it will address immediate needs of program participants beginning with the period of performance April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. These expenditures are authorized in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329 as food and/or non-alcoholic beverage expenditures are part of the standard operating costs for the non-profit organizations serving such vulnerable populations.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to provide emergency vacated tenant services without interruption for residents that are facing displacement to avoid homelessness.
Contract Compliance: the vendor’s contract compliance number is 025439 and expires 04/03/2027.
Fiscal Impact: $90,000.00 is available within the Department of Development’s general fund budget
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with The Homeless Families Foundation, a social service agency in an amount up to $90,000.00 for the Vacated Tenant Services program; to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages as part of the standard operating costs; to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning April 1, 2026; to authorize expenditure in an amount up to $90,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($90,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, when a structure is deemed not fit for human habitation by the City of Columbus, the City must also require the occupants to vacate the unit until it is brought into compliance; and
WHEREAS, this disruption also adds an additional layer to an already existing housing crisis and causes additional stress and undue burden to Columbus residents; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to help mitigate the burden in securing housing therefore the Homeless Families Foundation will act as a Temporary Housing Coordinator organizing temporary housing and essential services for tenants while providing housing focused case management services during this difficult time; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to execute a not-for-profit service agreement with a social service agency for the Vacated Tenant Services Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize expenditure within the Department of Development’s general fund budget in an amount up to $90,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting April 1, 2026 which may include food and non-alcoholic beverage expenditures for participants of the program which are considered an operating cost of the not-for-profit agency and is an allowable expense in accordance with Columbus City Code Chapter 329; 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 execute a not-for-profit service contract with The Homeless Families Foundation, a social service provider for the Vacated Tenant Services Program to organize temporary housing and essential services for tenants while providing housing focused case management services to avoid homelessness including emergency temporary housing, rental assistance, help in locating housing and other additional support to promote stability thereby preserving 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 hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with The Homeless Families Foundation, a social service agency in an amount up to $90,000.00 for the Vacated Tenant Services program, to authorize the payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages; and to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning April 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure in an amount up to $90,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 03 (services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this Council recognizes and authorizes the expenditures for food and or non-alcoholic beverages are considered part of the organizations’ standard operating costs, are allowable beginning April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 per Columbus City Code Chapter 329.35, are for a proper public purpose and that any and all funds awarded pursuant to this ordinance may go toward the expenditure of food and or non-alcoholic beverages.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 legislation.
SECTION 7. 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 which 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 it.