Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes and directs the Division of Neighborhood Services to enter into an agreement with Maryhaven to support the Safe Pathways program. There are about 1,200 arrests annually in Columbus of women charged with solicitation for prosecution according to the Division of Police. An estimated 75% are substance dependent. This evidence confirms the notion that addiction to drugs cause some women to turn to prostitution to support their drug habit. The impacts are far-reaching, extending beyond the criminal justice system and having direct implications for families, as well as taxing our social service system network , including public health care faculties and child support agencies. Safe Pathways provides critical intervention to help women take the first step to a productive, law-abiding lifestyle.
Maryhaven has relied on federal funding for this program for several years, but funding under the Byrne Memorial Grant program has been drastically reduced, forcing the agency to seek alternative funding. Because of the wide-ranging impacts noted above, including public safety concerns, Council deems it reasonable to allocate a portion of the $2 million Public Safety Fund it created with its 2005 budget amendments to continue this important program. The $50,000 granted here is intended to be one-time, stop-gap funding to cover the July to December period.
City funding allow the program to treat 28 offenders with a highly structured six-month program, including a job readiness component. Follow up demonstrates that 80% of program participants have not re-offended tor had their probation status revoked during the project period.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE #: 31-0732345 (non-profit)
Emergency action is requested to expedite this crime prevention program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
City Council set aside $2 million in its 2005 amendments for Public Safety initiatives. This ordinances taps $50,000 of that amount.
Title
To authorize and direct the transfer of $50,000.00 within the General Fund and to authorize and direct the Division of Neighborhood Services to enter into an agreement with Maryhaven., to support the Safe Pathways program; to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there are about 1,200 arrests annually in Columbus of women charged with solicitation for prosecution according to the Division of Police, of which an estimated 75% are substance dependent, confirming that some women turn to prosecution to support their drug habit; and
WHEREAS, prostitution and drug addiction have impacts that are far-reaching, extending beyond the criminal justice system and having direct implications for families, as well as taxing our social service system network , including public health care faculties and child support agencies; and
WHEREAS, Safe Pathways provides critical intervention to help women take the first step to a productive, law-abiding life style by first treating drug addiction; and
WHEREAS, Maryhaven has relied on federal funding for this program for four years, but funding under the Byrne Memorial Grant program has been drastically reduced, forcing the agency to seek alternative funding; and
WHEREAS, because of the wide-ranging impacts noted above, including public safety concerns, Council member Michael C. Mentel sponsors this legislation and the full Council deems it an appropriate use of a portion of the $2 million Public Safety Initiatives fund created by Council in its 2005 budget amendments; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is immediately necessary to support the Safe Pathways program for the immediate 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 City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $50,000.00 within the general fund from the Department of Finance, Department 45, OL1 10, OL3 5501, OCA 904508 to the Division of Neighborhood Services, Department 44-05, OL1 03, OL3 3337, OCA 440280.
SECTION 2. That the Development Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into agreement with Maryhaven., to support continuation of the Safe Pathways Program, and to expend $50,000 for said purpose from the General Fund, Fund 010, Division of Neighborhood Services No. 44-05, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 440280.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared 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.