Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board, Inc. (CSB) in order to assist in the purchase of a vacant warehouse which will be renovated and converted into a new emergency shelter serving homeless individuals and families. CSB is implementing a community endorsed crisis response system that includes the purchase of a 63,476 square foot vacant warehouse (“Project”). A total of 32,095 square feet is converted into a single adults shelter, a 276 bed homeless shelter serving single adults (men and women) experiencing homelessness. The remaining 31,381 square feet is reserved for a new emergency shelter for families, with a capacity to serve up to 85 homeless families. Services such as a medical clinic, on-site job training, employment assistance and case management will be available in the building. The City is committing these funds from the 2015 Bond Sale ($350,000) to the Project. Additional funding of $5 million for the acquisition and renovation of the building is coming from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and private corporations. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall 2015. Operating support for the project will come in the form of grants and fundraising conducted by CSB.
The shelter will be owned and operated by the Community Shelter Board with support from CSB’s partner agencies, the YMCA of Central Ohio and VOAGO. Other on-site resident services will be provided by a variety of providers, such as Access Ohio, OhioHealth and Southeast Inc.
Emergency action is in order to implement crisis response initiatives and comply with project development timelines.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this project are included in the 2015 Capital Improvements Budget under Housing Preservation, Emergency Shelter Repair. This final payment brings the total investment of City Bond funds in the purchase of the Van Buren emergency shelter to $1,40...
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