Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a modification of a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio to extend the end date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027.
Original Agreement $ 55,000.00 Ord 3292-2024 PO500371
Modification No. 1 amount $ 0.00 Ord 0185-2025 PO500371
Modification No. 2 amount $ 0.00
Total contract amount $ 55,000.00
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. No additional funds are being requested under this modification.
2. The additional time necessary was not foreseen per the original contract due to funding being disbursed at a slower pace than anticipated. The widespread availability of emergency rental assistance in 2025 led to higher rates of case settlement and a correspondingly small number of appeals; in 2026 tenants have been using the fund with increasing frequency, and as such, the need for legislative modification is required by operation of C.C. 329.09(b).
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio’s current grant agreement to create a fund to provide fiscal manager services, as a partner in the City of Columbus, for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction with the funding required for eviction case appeals.
4. Prices remain the same as the original contract.
Low Income tenants in eviction court often encounter many barriers to addressing legal issues in eviction cases. While the City provides funding for legal representation, oftentimes that representation must be cut short if the tenant is unable to pay for a court-mandated bond when attempting to appeal a decision.
The City of Columbus currently provides funding for Access to Counsel thought the Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) at Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to assist low-income tenants at eviction court. TAP assists in a number of appeals for these clients but ...
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