Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless in support of trash removal, safe storage, and hygiene initiatives for the City’s unsheltered population. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to the Foundation to support these efforts, as the Coalition does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
With the City’s population of unsheltered residents growing to a new high in 2026, there is a growing need to ensure basic needs for those residents. The Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, whose mission involves empowering and advocating for the homeless, will work with several local partners on the City’s West and South Side to achieve a healthier community for persons living outside and those directly impacted by homeless encampments. These efforts will focus on three areas: improving health through access to showers and hygiene; safe storage of personal belongings; and improving health and maintenance of community spaces through the removal of trash in and around encampments. The intent of the Coalition is achieving a more connected and engaged community of people living outside and moving toward the end goal of ending their experience of homelessness.
Council is proposing support of $125,000.00 for these efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: $125,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for the Coalition to immediately address urgent needs surrounding trash removal, safe storage, and hygiene for unsheltered residents.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, in support of trash removal, safe storage, and hygiene initiatives for the City’s unsheltered population; to authorize the appropriation of $107,500.00 and ...
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