Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of a portion of the FY 2015 HOME monies within the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to the Department of Development. Since the federal government has not yet finalized the 2015 funding levels for the HOME Program, an ordinance is needed to appropriate critical components of the program. Specifically, administrative dollars and funding for Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) activities are immediately needed.
The funds will be allocated as follows: $325,000 for the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund - Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and $300,000 for HOME administration. The balance of the HOME dollars will be requested to be appropriated and expended once the actual allocation amount is received from HUD.
The Community Shelter Board will subcontract with qualified nonprofit organizations to implement TBRA in accordance with HOME Fund regulations for TBRA. These entities will lease housing units for the Rebuilding Lives program. Then they will maintain and operate the housing units and related facilities to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing in accordance with the HUD Housing Quality Standards. The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) will inspect the units. The City's Consolidated Action Plan for 2015-2019 contains TBRA housing preference priorities for chronically homeless persons. Ordinance 2382-2014, passed November 17, 2014, authorized the filing of the 2015 plan application with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and authorized the adoption of the 2015 Action Plan budget.
Emergency action is requested in order to ensure rental subsidies are in place for 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure are allocated from the Rebuilding Lives set-aside within the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund allocation of the 2015 HOME Funds. In addition, once the allocation amount is received from HUD, a request will be made to City Council to appropriate and expend the balance of the HOME dollars.
Title
To authorize an appropriation of $625,000 from the HOME Fund to provide funding for various approved 2015 programs; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board to provide for tenant-based rental assistance for the Rebuilding Lives Program; to authorize the expenditure of $325,000.00 from the HOME Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($625,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is the recipient of HOME Investment Partnerships funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds from the unappropriated balance of the 2015 HOME Fund to the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, HOME funds will be used for administrative dollars and funding for Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) activities; and
WHEREAS, the City is a partner in the Rebuilding Lives initiative to provide permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless persons; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to assist the Rebuilding Lives initiative by establishing a tenant-based rental assistance program; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board in order to administer and operate the tenant-based rental assistance program; and
WHEREAS, there is an immediate need for tenant-based rental assistance to continue rent subsidies for participants in the Rebuilding Lives Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate funds and to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board to permit the payment of tenant-based rental assistance to begin immediately, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the HOME Fund, Fund 201, Grant 458001 and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources during the 12 months ending December 31, 2015, there be and hereby is appropriated to Division 44-10 the following sums:
Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund:
Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 445231, Amount $325,000
HOME Administration:
Object Level One 01, Object Level Three 1101, OCA Code 445230, Amount $300,000
TOTAL FUND 201 $625,000
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Community Shelter Board to provide for tenant-based rental assistance services.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $325,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Development, Department 44-10, Fund 201, Grant 458001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 445231.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 5. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.