Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with New Directions Career Center in support of agency stability and sustainability.
New Directions Career Center (NDCC) provides an effective career development and employment placement program with wrap-around and barrier reducing support services for unemployed and underemployed, low-income women who reside in Columbus and Franklin County. Programs include career readiness training and counseling. Individual services include employment placement, landlord mediation, benefit applications, emergency financial assistance, financial counseling, and priority access and linkages to community resources such as food, furniture, utilities, and housing.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for services has more than tripled - in Q2, NDCC provided 391 individual services. Since COVID-19 has hit, 70% of NDCC’s clients have been single mothers struggling with job loss and increased expenses. Over 90 clients who reached out to NDCC in the past three months are experiencing unemployment, furloughs, loss of income, or the need to change positions in order to accommodate childcare and family health needs.
Simultaneously, NDCC’s revenue has been critically impacted: multiple planned fundraisers have been cancelled, and NDCC’s fee-for-contract services have been reduced as other human services organizations have been similarly impacted. Funding to close the revenue gap caused by COVID-19 ensures that NDCC’s essential career readiness, counseling, and placement services coupled with supportive wrap-around services continue to meet the present and increasing demand for Central Ohio residents.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the CARES Act fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide NDCC with the resources necessary to sustain agency operations and services to residents.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with...
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