Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with HandsOn Central Ohio to provide anytime access to emergency food for Columbus residents through fully automated interactive voice and Al Chat channels. The total amount of the grant agreement is $60,000.00.
Last year, more than 150,000 emergency meals were accessed through agent-based chat and text scheduling on mobile phones and at handoncentralohio.org. Nearly half of food insecure residents in Columbus use HandsOn’s phone and online chat services to schedule emergency food appointments when presented with the option. Two and a half years after it was launched, it continues to deepen its impact on food security; more than 20% of all emergency food accessed across Columbus is secured through chat and text. This funding will allow continued improvement of this much needed service.
Emergency action is necessary to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this expenditure is allocated from both the Emergency Human Services Fund, $30,000.00 and the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, $30,000.00.
Title
To approve the grant application of HandsOn Central Ohio seeking financial assistance to address emergency human service needs pursuant to Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $30,000.00 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $30,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with HandsOn Central Ohio to provide anytime access to emergency food for Columbus residents through fully automated interactive voice and Al Chat channels; and to declare an emergency. ($60,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, HandsOn Central Ohio has submitted a grant application seeking financial assistance; 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 Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with HandsOn Central Ohio to provide anytime access to emergency food for Columbus residents through fully automated interactive voice and Al Chat channels; and
WHEREAS, the grant will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Services funds and the general fund; 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 HandsOn Central Ohio to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of vital 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 the agency identified in Section 2 seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service need pursuant to Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes 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 the HandsOn Central Ohio for a one year period for the provision of anytime access to emergency food for Columbus residents through fully automated interactive voice and Al Chat channels
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $30,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 Hotel Motel Bed Tax Fund, in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditures authorized herein are in accordance with Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 5. 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 the 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 her discretion.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $30,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Department of Development in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $30,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in fund 1000 general fund, in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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.