Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $184,340.00 to provide housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Latitude Five25 apartment complex and a contribution to the Landlord Mitigation Fund.
On Dec. 25, 2022, Latitude Five25 - an apartment complex located at 525 Sawyer Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43203, was declared unsafe due to burst pipes and subsequent flooding. As a result 150 households in the apartment complex were immediately evacuated.
With assistance from the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), an emergency shelter was established at the Dodge Recreation Center to serve the tenants. Given the extensive damage and long standing need for complex-wide repairs a longer term relocation option for residents is necessary.
The Community Shelter Board mobilized to provide temporary housing in motels for over 140 individuals- coordinating accommodations, meals, transportation, and linkage to on-site county agencies.
Recognizing the extensive damage to the complex as well as the ongoing litigation to hold the property owners accountable, the City of Columbus, in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners who have provided funding in the amount of $750,000.00, seeks to provide support for the displaced residents.
Each household is eligible for three months of accommodations and services as they work with relocation specialists to identify long-term housing options. Services available include delivery of meals, transportation, staffing costs, as well as security services.
Emergency action is requested to provide temporary housing and basic needs assistance to currently displaced residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: $184,340.00 will be transferred from General Fund Citywide Account; contingent on the passage of the 2023 General Fund Operating Budget, Ordinance No. 29...
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