Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with STAR House to provide services for homeless youth for a twelve-month period for a total amount of $125,000.00.
The STAR House is a welcoming drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 14 and 24 and serves as a safe and accepting place where they can connect with a concerned community. STAR House enables the youth to do their laundry, eat, rest, bathe and receive clothing. It also acts as a place to connect to the services available through other agencies that provide educational, health, financial and food subsidies along with job-seeking skills.
There is a void of services available for homeless street-living youth between the ages of 14-24 years in Columbus, Ohio. It is estimated that over 1,500 youth in Columbus are homeless on the streets in any given night. STAR House offers a gateway from the streets to the mainstream.
Founded in 2006, STAR House began as an outgrowth of a federally-funded research program. During the course of the research, it was determined that a drop-in center is necessary in order to engage youth into more intensive services including housing, education, employment and mental/physical health treatment. STAR House uniquely integrates research and community service. Effective engagement, linkage, and treatment strategies are tested and put into practice without the myriad barriers in many other research-to-practice efforts. In this way, STAR House is always testing and implementing state of the art, evidence-based practices.
The funding set forth in this ordinance will authorize and direct the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with STAR House for crucial renovations and infrastructure needs necessary to serve this population.
Emergency action is necessary to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this expenditure is allocated from the Emergency Human Services Fund ($62,500) and Public Safety Initiatives Fund ($62,500).
Title
To approve the grant application of STAR House seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service need pursuant to Columbus City Codes, 1959; to authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with STAR House to provide operational funding; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $62,500.00 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; to authorize the appropriation and the expenditure of $62,500.00 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Star House has submitted a grant application seeking financial assistance for Emergency Human Services Funds; and
WHEREAS, City Council has reviewed the grant application and hereby declares that the agency has articulated a need for Emergency Human Services operating funds that is sufficient to justify approval of said grant; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Star House for the continued provision of services for homeless youth; and
WHEREAS, City Council is authorized to allocate funds annually to assist social service agencies in the city with the operating costs of delivering programs; and
WHEREAS, the grant will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Services Funds and Public Safety Initiatives Funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a grant agreement with Star House to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the grant application of Star House seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service need pursuant to Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Star House for the provision of services for homeless youth for a one-year period.
SECTION 3. That an appropriation of funds is needed as follows:
DIV 44-01|FUND 232|OBJ LVL (01) 03|OBJ LVL (03) 3337|OCA #499043 |AMOUNT $62.500.00
DIV 44-01|FUND 016|OBJ LVL (01) 03|OBJ LVL (03) 3337|OCA #440216 |AMOUNT $62.500.00
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $125,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same is hereby authorized as follows:
DIV 44-01 | FUND 016 | OBJ LVL (1) 03 | OBJECT LVL (3) 3337| OCA # 440216 | AMOUNT $62,500.00
DIV 44-01 | FUND 232 | OBJ LVL (1) 03 | OBJECT LVL (3) 3337| OCA # 499043 | AMOUNT $62,500.00
SECTION 5. That the expenditures authorized herein are in accordance with Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
SECTION 6. Payments are expressly contingent upon the availability of sufficient monies in the Emergency Human Services Fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract and in no case shall payments exceed available cash in this fund. In this event that there is not sufficient cash in the fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract, the City Auditor shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments at his discretion.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.