City of Columbus - File #: 3349-2025

• File #: 3349-2025
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Second Reading
• File created: 11/28/2025
• In control: Housing, Homelessness, & Building Committee
• On agenda: 12/15/2025
• Title: To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for the purpose of supporting winter warming services; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $2,000,000.00 from the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund; to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior the approval of the purchase order, including food and non-alcoholic beverages, as “operating costs” to serve the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00)

Explanation

BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Not-for-Profit Service Contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 from the Department’s Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund to support winter warming services that will help keep unhoused individuals safe during dangerous weather.

The 2025-26 Winter Response begins December 1, 2025 and ends April 15, 2026, adjustments may be made to the dates depending on weather patterns and partner capacity. Services and plans will include but not be limited to the following three components:

Daytime Warming Centers
Unhoused residents will be able to utilize libraries, recreation centers, and a handful of churches to stay warm during the day this winter. Homeless outreach teams will focus their engagement at high traffic locations, working to enroll unhoused residents in street outreach if they are interested and help develop a housing plan with them.

Overnight Shelter
Each year, Community Shelter Board develops a plan to handle winter overflow within its crisis response system. Due to a tight housing market and reduced outflow from the shelters, it is worthwhile to provide residents with additional choices during the winter months. Temporary seasonal beds in congregate and semi-congregate facilities will be open on a rolling calendar beginning in November of 2025.

Extreme Cold Events
During level 3 snow emergencies, shelters keep individuals inside and remain open all day. Additionally, homeless outreach teams conduct specific, concentrated engagement in an attempt to get individuals inside ahead of extreme weather events. CRPD Community Recreation Centers will open five regional Community Recreation Centers and will extend operating hours to accommodate those who need a warm place in extreme cold (below 20 degrees).

Expenses to support the three components include but are not limited to staff salaries and benefits, facility rentals and ...