Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement in the amount up to $3,033,898.00 with The Tony R. Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation, a non-profit corporation, to act as a Fiscal Manager for the disbursement of funds to eligible recipients as part of the department’s Columbus Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI). This agreement is needed as funding from the Emergency Rental Assistance2 program ends September 30, 2025 and the city has a need to continue to provide eviction and homelessness prevention services to vulnerable residents of Columbus. The RHI program will provide rental, utility, and other services to residents facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness in the area who qualify for assistance.
Tony R. Wells Foundation will act as fiscal manager for the RHI program to provide rental and utility assistance to residents in the local area who qualify for the assistance as determined by the applications manager Greenwood 360 LLC. Disbursement of payments will be made directly to landlords, utility companies, and other service providers on behalf of eligible recipients. RHI will be serving an estimated 600 households over a seven-month period as the contract will be from September 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. There will be a need to advance funding on a predetermined schedule for this program.
Emergency action is requested to assist tenants facing housing instability, eviction, or potential homelessness with emergency rental assistance.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 038668 and expires 5/22/2027.
Fiscal Impact: $3,033,898.00 is available within the Income Tax Set Aside funds (ITSA).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in the amount up to $3,033,898.00 with the Tony R. Wells Foundation dba The Wells Foundation to act as a Fiscal Manager for the disbursement of funds to eligible recipients...
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