Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board, a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $30,000.00 to enhance capacity for screening services for the Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI). This legislation also requests authorization to reimburse expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, starting December 15, 2025, and to advance funding per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement.
The City of Columbus’s Resilient Housing Initiative (RHI) catalyzed the inclusion of broad-based homelessness prevention services in Coordinated Entry (CE) for the first time in our region. This change-alongside the increased need during winter weather conditions-is generating a major influx of callers to the CE intake line, the Homeless Hotline. The increased call volume and added service population are causing longer wait times for all callers.
Netcare is a contractor for Community Shelter Board (CSB) and has operated the Homeless Hotline since July of 2018. The Hotline handles approximately 300 calls per day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Netcare employs licensed counselors and social workers to operate the Homeless Hotline and conduct intake for residents in a housing crisis. The Hotline is the hub of all emergency shelter, warming center, and shelter waitlist management for the region.
Since RHI launched on November 21, 2025, the Homeless Hotline has seen an influx of an additional 200+ calls per day, many are from individuals seeking RHI funds to prevent eviction. This is happening at the same time as the Winter Response for emergency shelter overflow and warming centers.
These resources will fund additional Netcare staff dedicated to answering calls for support. Additional staff will decrease wait times for callers, allowing the Coordinated Entry intake line to more effectively give callers access to the services they need...
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