Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board, a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $30,000.00 to enhance capacity for screening services for the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI). This legislation also requests authorization to reimburse expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, starting December 15, 2025, and to advance funding per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement.
The City of Columbus’s Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) catalyzed the inclusion of broad-based homelessness prevention services in Coordinated Entry (CE) for the first time in our region. This change-alongside the increased need during winter weather conditions-is generating a major influx of callers to the CE intake line, the Homeless Hotline. The increased call volume and added service population are causing longer wait times for all callers.
Netcare is a contractor for Community Shelter Board (CSB) and has operated the Homeless Hotline since July of 2018. The Hotline handles approximately 300 calls per day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Netcare employs licensed counselors and social workers to operate the Homeless Hotline and conduct intake for residents in a housing crisis. The Hotline is the hub of all emergency shelter, warming center, and shelter waitlist management for the region.
Since RHI launched on November 21, 2025, the Homeless Hotline has seen an influx of an additional 200+ calls per day, many are from individuals seeking RHI funds to prevent eviction. This is happening at the same time as the Winter Response for emergency shelter overflow and warming centers.
These resources will fund additional Netcare staff dedicated to answering calls for support. Additional staff will decrease wait times for callers, allowing the Coordinated Entry intake line to more effectively give callers access to the services they need.
Emergency action is requested to provide emergency financial assistance to address the need for housing stability and homelessness prevention. The need for additional capacity was not known until after the RHI program was launched.
Contract Compliance: Community Shelter Board’s vendor number is 004795 and expires 12/10/26.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $30,000.00 for screening services for the Resilient Housing Initiative; to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $30,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus’s Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) catalyzed the inclusion of broad-based homelessness prevention services in Coordinated Entry (CE) for the first time in our region; and
WHEREAS, this change is generating a major influx of callers to the CE intake line, increasing call volume and service population, causing longer wait times for all callers; and
WHEREAS, additional resources will fund additional staff dedicated to answering calls for support, decreasing wait times for callers and efficiently providing access to the services they need; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $30,000.00 to enhance capacity for screening services for the Resilient Housing Initiative; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund in an amount up to $30,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting December 15, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to also authorize advanced funds per a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Department of Development to authorize the Director enter into a grant agreement with Community Shelter Board to address the need for housing stability and homelessness prevention, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; 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 hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $30,000.00 for screening services for the Resilient Housing Initiative, to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning December 15, 2025, and to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule provided in the terms of the agreement.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $30,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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.