Explanation
This ordinances authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into grant agreements with Columbus Urban League and Catholic Social Services in support of the Right to Recover program.
According to a July study on the impact of COVID-19 in major US cities, more than half of residents report experiencing serious financial problems, especially Black and Latinx individuals. Additionally, the infection rate in Columbus has consistently been around four times as high for Hispanic residents and twice as high for Black residents when compared to white residents. These statistics are illustrative of the fact that the industries that disproportionately employ workers of color are also the most likely to require in-person work and are least likely to offer paid time off or pay wages that provide their employees with the resources needed to sustain a period of unpaid leave. This creates an impossible situation for these workers should they contract COVID-19. Indeed, Columbus Public Health (CPH) has reported anecdotes from both its own testing sites and those of other partners that economically vulnerable and symptomatic residents are either unwilling to be tested (for fear of a positive diagnosis necessitating isolation) or have stated their economic need and intention to return to work despite receiving a positive diagnosis. This, obviously, increases the likelihood for spread among employees, customers, and the broader community.
The Right to Recover program will offer residents the financial resources they need to take time off of work, isolate, and recover in order to return to the workforce and mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. Right to Recover will provide means-tested income replacement for approximately two weeks to those with a positive diagnosis.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the CARES Act fund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in providing the resources necessary to initiate Right to Recover for those afflict...
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