Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to modify a grant agreement with Faith Mission, Inc., in an amount up to $1,256,723.00 using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and to amend the scope of services to be in alignment with the recently published federal guidance.
Original Grant $ 296,351.00 Ordinance 2922-2021/0340-3022
Modification No. 1 $1,256,723.00
Total Grant Amount $1,553,074.00
Ordinance 1201-2021 authorized the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate approximately $187,030,138.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as signed into law by the President of the United States on March 11, 2021.
Faith Mission is the largest shelter system in central Ohio with two men’s shelters and one women’s shelter. The shelters are open 365 days a year, serving up to 237 people every night and more during cold weather. They provide shelter for approximately 1,900 people every year. Each day, shelter staff have worked directly, in person, with people experiencing a housing crisis throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They have risked the health and well-being of themselves and their families to keep our neighbors experiencing homelessness safe. As an essential worker in the city’s critical infrastructure to address the housing crisis, front line staff are eligible for premium pay under the ARPA guidelines.
Funding will also support retaining employees and paying for overtime costs because of a decline in revenue due the public health emergency.
Emergency action is requested to address the impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 11, 2021.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 011758 and expires 4/20/2023.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with Faith Mission, Inc., in an amount up to $1,256,723.00 using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and to modify the scope of services to be in alignment with the recently published federal guidance; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,256,723.00 of ARPA funds; and to declare an emergency. ($1,256,723.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Faith Mission is the largest shelter system in central Ohio with two men’s shelters and one women’s shelter serving up to 237 people every night and more during cold weather; and
WHEREAS, shelter staff have worked directly, in person, with people experiencing a housing crisis throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As an essential worker in the city’s critical infrastructure to address the housing crisis, front line staff are eligible for premium pay under the ARPA guidelines; and
WHEREAS, funding will also support retaining employees and paying for overtime costs because of a decline in revenue due the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in negative impacts on the city’s shelter system, such as exposing front line workers to COVID, requiring additional cleaning of the congregate setting, and declining revenues; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of ARPA funding to support organizations providing these services is necessary to alleviate the negative impacts caused by the COVID 19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2022 Budget; 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 to modify a grant agreement with Faith Mission, Inc. to address the impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency, for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; 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 modify a grant agreement with Faith Mission, Inc., in an amount up to $1,256,723.00 using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and to modify the scope of services to be in alignment with the recently published federal guidance
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $1,256,723.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2209 (ARPA), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.