Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to modify a grant agreement with Somali Community Link, Inc. in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to continue to provide rental and utility assistance using federal Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds.
Original grant amount $ 500,000.00 Ord. 2306-2021
Mod. 1 grant amount $ 500,000.00 Ord. 3245-2021
Mod 2 grant amount $1,000,000.00
Total grant amount $2,000,000.00
Ordinance 2275-2021 authorizes the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate $12,774,607.20 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA 2) program funds, as passed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Of this amount, $1,000,000.00 will be used to provide rental and utility assistance (as defined by U. S. Treasury) to qualifying residents of the local community to ensure housing stability.
In July 2021, the Department of Development issued a Notice of Award (NOFA) to solicit responses from community organization who could provide these federal grant funds to hard to reach communities. Twenty-six organizations have been selected to receive these funds. Of the 26, 23 were be funded with ERA 1 funds under the authority of Ordinance 1818-2021 and three were funded with ERA 2 funds under Ordinance 2306-2021.
Advertising for these services again would interrupt the program and possibly result a delay in providing these services. The terms of the grant agreement modification shall be the same as that of the original grant agreement.
Emergency action is requested in order to continue to services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 passed by Congress and signed into law December 27, 2020, and contingent upon passage of Ordinance 2275-2021.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 039435 and expires 8/25/2023
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to modify a grant agreement with Somali Community Link, Inc. in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to continue to provide rental and utility assistance using federal Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds; to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 of Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds; and to declare an emergency ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Development has identified a need to modify a grant agreement with Somali Community Link, Inc. in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to continue to provide rental and utility assistance using federal Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds.
WHEREAS, in July 2021, the Department of Development issued a Notice of Award (NOFA) to solicit responses from community organization who could provide these federal grant funds to hard to reach communities. Twenty-six organizations have been selected to receive these funds. Of the 26, 23 were be funded with ERA 1 funds under the authority of Ordinance 1818-2021 and three were funded with ERA 2 funds Ordinance 2306-2021, including Somali Community Link, Inc.
WHEREAS, at least 60% of the funding will support households with an AMI at 50% or below and/or have a member of the household who has been unemployed for 90 days; up to 40% of the funding can be used for households with an AMI at 80% or below; and 10% of the funding will be utilized for Administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in much needed assistance when low income households have seen significant decreases in personal income due to COVID-19 and the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of ERA funding to provide low income households with financial assistance is necessary to address reduced income needed to pay rent and utility expenses caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2021 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 Somali Community Link, Inc. in order to continue to services without interruption, 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 hereby authorized to modify a grant agreement with Somali Community Link, Inc. in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 to continue to provide rental and utility assistance using federal Emergency Rental Assistance 2 funds.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2208 (ERA Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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 legislation.
SECTION 5. 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.