Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Franklin County Public Health (FCPH), in an amount up to $90,000.00 to provide a safe temporary housing option to the families of Life at Edgewater Landing when the property was vacated due to landlord negligence, and to authorize the payment of tenant coordination and hotel expenses starting January 13, 2025. This ordinance also seeks authorization to renew this not-for-profit service contract for one additional year beyond the date of execution, if needed.
On January 14, 2025, the property manager and owner of the apartment complex, Life at Edgewater Landing was served with a vacate notice for all occupied units without heat due to a failing boiler system. Property management failed to offer a temporary housing option for the displaced families per City Code section 4509.061. The City of Columbus immediately stepped in to offer accommodations to the 53 households that were vacated in the following days. The Vacant Tenant Services program enrolls each family, connecting them with a Columbus Public Health social worker and coordinating with a not for profit partner to identify hotel accommodations and manage the stay.
Given the scale of this vacate, the Department of Development quickly exhausted the capacity of our two current partner organizations- Homes for Families and COMPASS. Development contacted Franklin County Public Health to assist with emergency placement of households under their existing contracts with hotels. FCPH agreed and has been placing families on our behalf since January 16, 2025.
The City Attorney has filed a lawsuit against the property ownership due to the ongoing issues and to recoup the City’s expenses incurred to serve the vacated families. The purpose of this contract is to reimburse FCPH for the costs that they are incurring as one of our partner agencies.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is av...
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