Explanation
BACKGROUND: In late 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) reinvented its Emergency Shelter Grant program. The new Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) expands the original purpose of preventing homelessness and providing emergency shelter to include and encourage initiatives of rapid re-housing and stabilization for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Additionally the grant can now also be used to support the community's Homeless Management Information System to guarantee that the community's plan to end homelessness is based on the most applicable and current homeless data available.
In early 2012, HUD released a second allocation of FY2011 ESG funds to qualifying jurisdictions. The City of Columbus was awarded $159,208 from HUD. This funding requires the City of Columbus to submit to HUD an ESG application and make a substantial amendment to the City's Consolidated Plan 2011 Action Plan. On April 7, 2012, the City began a 30 day public comment period. Citizens, public agencies and other interested parties had opportunity to make public comments to the city on the ESG application through May 6, 2012. HUD requires that the City submit an ESG application no later than May 15, 2011. This legislation authorizes the City to submit an ESG application to HUD and to make a substantial amendment to the City's Consolidated Plan's 2011 Action Plan.
This legislation also authorizes the appropriation from the General Government Grant Fund of ESG funds in the amount of $159,208 for the provision of homeless services and to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board, Inc. (CSB) (Contract Compliance Number 31-1181284) for the administration of the City's ESG monies. Funds will be used to meet the housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan submitted to HUD.
The contract will provide $159,208 from the ESG for the purpose of effectively and efficiently enabling our community to help individuals and families who are homeless resolve their housing crisis. The CSB has been selected because of their history with the City and the homeless service community in the funding and coordination of services to homeless individuals and families, as well as, their established administrative procedures to effectively and efficiently implement such services.
Emergency legislation is needed to satisfy HUD's May 15, 2012 grant application deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Emergency Solutions Grant allocation is for $159,208. Funds for the contract are allocated from the General Government Grant Fund in the amount of $159,208 for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.
Title
To approve the Emergency Solutions Grant Program application and authorize the filing of the Emergency Solutions Grant application with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to make a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan's 2011 Action Plan; to authorize the appropriation of $159,208 from the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of effectively and efficiently enabling our community to help individuals and families who are homeless resolve their housing crisis; to authorize the expenditure of $159,208 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($159,208.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has received $159,208 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds from HUD under the Emergency Solutions Grant Program for the provision of support services to the homeless; and
WHEREAS, the Emergency Solutions Grant application requires a substantial amendment to the 2011 Action Plan which implements the city of Columbus' five year Consolidated Plan; and
WHEREAS, HUD must receive the City of Columbus' Emergency Solutions Grant application by the deadline of May 15, 2012; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board; and
WHEREAS, these programs have effectively and efficiently enabled our community to help individuals and families who are homeless resolve their housing crisis; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to approve this legislation to meet HUD's May 15, 2012 grant application deadline, 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 City of Columbus Emergency Solutions Grant application is hereby approved and that the Mayor, acting on behalf of the City of Columbus, is hereby authorized and directed to file such application with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and make a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan's 2011 Action Plan.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the year ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $159,208.00 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development with the OCA and grant codes to be issued by the City Auditor upon award of said grant. The appropriation is effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
Section 3. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to contract with the Community Shelter Board for the purpose of effectively and efficiently enabling our community to help individuals and families who are homeless resolve their housing crisis.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended.
Section 5. That for the purpose as stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $159,208.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary and be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Government Grant Fund, Department of Development, Department No. 44-10, Fund 220, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337 with the OCA and grant codes to be issued by the City Auditor upon award of said grant.
Section 6. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
Section 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.