Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Extreme weather brought on by climate change is affecting the Columbus region, primarily through very high and very low temperatures. In the past, City Council has provided funding to organizations that served as cooling and warming centers for people seeking refuge. This year, Council has decided to enter into grant agreements with Family Mentor Foundation, GoldHeart Outreach, and Mission Warmth, all non-profit corporations, to provide services to residents during the winter months.
Family Mentoring Foundation will supply buddy boxes to our warming center residents.
GoldHeart Outreach and Mission Warmth will provide rides to warming stations.
Emergency action is requested to allow these organizations to have the resources available to immediately deploy in the case of an extreme weather situation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into grant agreements with Family Mentoring Foundation, GoldHeart Outreach, and Mission Warmth for their services during the extreme winter months; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and to declare an emergency. ($29,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need in the community to provide extreme weather services to unhoused individuals to protect them from dangerous winter weather; and
WHEREAS, The city has partnered with non-profit organizations in the past to provide residents with cooling and warming centers at no cost to residents; and
WHEREAS, City Council and the Administration are developing a plan to establish a protocol for future funding during extreme summer and winter weather events; and
WHEREAS, until such a protocol is established, there is a continued need for support of residents across the city during the winter months; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in...
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