Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Kaleidoscope Youth Center, a non profit entity, for the support of their Wellness Initiative and Emergency Housing programs.
Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) is the largest and longest standing organization serving LGBTQIA+ youth in the state of Ohio. Since 1994, KYC has been the leader and expert in meeting the needs of and supporting LGBTQIA+ young people in the central Ohio community.
The KYC Community Wellness Initiative is an expansion of KYC’s current programming with an intersectional focus on the emerging mental health and wellness needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. This initiative works to implement sustainable community based wellness programs that improve the lives of adolescents; identify health conditions and environmental factors that are associated with barriers to wellness, and aid in improving the social determinants of health and wellness as it relates to LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. Clinical approaches will include trauma informed, wrap-around services to support young people in meeting their basic needs and building a strong sense of self and self-esteem through affirmation and empowerment, and holistic health and wellness activities.
The KYC Emergency Housing Program serves and supports homeless and housing insecure/vulnerable young adults ages 18-24 through the lenses of intersectionality and trauma informed/healing engaged care. The vision is to keep our young people off of the streets, and to decrease and disrupt the potential and/or subsequent crises that often arise when youth are without a predictable and consistent safe place to stay. Through no less than a 30 day supported stay at a local extended stay facility or hotel, youth will have the opportunity to experience a safer and supportive housing environment. Programming is low barrier to prioritize prevention through early engagement and linkage to resources and community support. Each young person utilizing services will be provided a case manager to assist them in developing and implementing a case plan, with the ultimate goal being to move participants from supportive housing into a safe, stable, and sustainable independent housing experience.
Emergency action is necessary to ensure funding is available immediately to provide assistance to the mental health and housing needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Kaleidoscope Youth Center in support of their Wellness Initiative and Emergency Housing programs; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, since 1994, KYC has been the leader and expert in meeting the needs of and supporting LGBTQIA+ young people in the central Ohio community; and
WHEREAS, The KYC Community Wellness Initiative is an expansion of KYC’s current programming with an intersectional focus on the emerging mental health and wellness needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults; and
WHEREAS, programming from the KYC Community Wellness Initiative is provided by a wellness practitioner/team, supportive community programming, and resources to collaborate with community partners and providers; and
WHEREAS, it is counter to the public good to allow financial barriers to prevent residents’ access to personal identification documents, which are themselves vital for securing economic prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the KYC Emergency Housing Program serves and supports homeless and housing insecure/vulnerable young adults ages 18-24 through the lenses of intersectionality and trauma informed/healing engaged care; and
WHEREAS, through no less than a 30 day supported stay at a local extended stay facility or hotel, youth will have the opportunity to experience a safer and supportive housing environment. Programming is low barrier to prioritize prevention through early engagement and linkage to resources and community support; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Kaleidoscope Youth Center for the support of their of their Wellness Initiative and Emergency Housing programs in time to immediately provide assistance to the mental health and housing needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults thereby preserving 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 Clerk is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the not-for-profit Kaleidoscope Youth Center in support of their Wellness Initiative and Emergency Housing programs.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation and expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, 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 ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reason stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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.