Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement (Modification No. 5) with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation in to extend the agreement end date from March 31, 2026 to March 31, 2027 for the Displaced Tenant Services program. Applications for assistance slowed as some property owners began paying for relocation costs directly pursuant to the relocation code. The program need continues and remaining funds can be extended to future need. Dollars should remain available on behalf of the program because of the unpredictable and emergency nature of the emergency of emergency vacates.
Original $ 65,000.00 Ord. 1686-2024 PO467735
Mod 1 $ 150,000.00 Ord. 3360-2024 PO485707
Mod 2 $ 50,000.00 Ord. 1994-2025 PO522914
Mod 3 $ 514,100.00 Ord. 2870-2025 PO542502
Mod 4 $ 9,000.00 Ord. 3318-2025 PO552033
Mod 5 $ 0.00
Total $ 788,100.00
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 a vacate order. These vacated residents often need immediate assistance to avoid homelessness, including emergency temporary housing, rental assistance, help locating housing, and other additional supports to promote stability.
The goal of Displaced Tenant Services 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 Tony R. Wells Foundation acts as the program’s Fiscal Manager, making payments for temporary accommodations and other necessary relocation expenses. The Tony R. Wells Foundation collaborates with the entire program team, including Columbus Public Health Social Work, R.H. Brown and Co professional relocation services, Homes for Families, and The Department of Development’s Division of Housing Stability.
Under this agreement, funding is included for recipients’ needs and a fee for the Tony R Wells Foundation acting as the fiscal manager.
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. The amount of the additional funds to be expended is $0.00.
2. The Department of Development could not predict the rate at which funding would be expended to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable residents. Applications for assistance slowed as some property owners began paying for relocation costs directly pursuant to the relocation code. As such, a modification to extend the agreement allows the funding to be used for future needs.
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with the Tony R Wells Foundation’s current contract as they are the acting fiscal manager for The Displaced Tenants program.
4. The funding provided is based on the availability of funds and not a pricing strategy.
Emergency action is requested as the current agreement will expire on March 31, 2026 and an extension is needed to prevent interruption in services to assist residents who are displaced and need immediate assistance for transitional housing to prevent homelessness.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funding is needed at this time.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s number is 038668 and expires on 05/22/2027.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to extend the agreement term date through March 31, 2027; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Displaced Tenant Services program mitigates the effects of disruptive displacement by providing relocation support to residents who are emergency vacated by the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Tony R. Wells Foundation acts as the program’s Fiscal Manager, making payments for temporary accommodations and other necessary relocation expenses; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development entered into a grant agreement, authorized by ordinance 1686-2024, to provide assistance to individuals facing housing instability, emergency vacate orders, or potential homelessness with funding for temporary accommodations; and
WHEREAS, the agreement was modified under ordinances 3360-2024, 1994-2025, 2870-2025, and 3318-2025 to provide additional funding to support displaced tenants; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development has a need to modify a grant agreement with the Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to extend the agreement for one additional year to March 31, 2027 to assist residents who are displaced and need immediate assistance for transitional housing to prevent homelessness; 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 the existing grant agreement with Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to extend the agreement date one year to March 31, 2027 to prevent interruption in services to assist residents who are displaced and need immediate assistance for transitional housing to prevent homelessness as the current contract expires March 31, 2026, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and 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 Tony R Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to extend the agreement date one year to March 31, 2027.
SECTION 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.