Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with IMPACT Community Action in support of the Eviction Prevention Program created by Councilmember Favor. The grant will provide funding for the Emergency Assistance program, providing low income residents with tenant based rental assistance and other supportive services.
The Emergency Assistance Department provides supportive services that deliver crisis intervention strategies to stabilize households and strengthen self-sufficiency. All Emergency Assistance Programs/Services serve Franklin County households that are at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines and most households must have a qualifying emergency to receive assistance.
In 2016, more than $91,302 was leveraged to help 539 households with transportation assistance, furniture assistance, rental assistance, water utility assistance, state identification assistance and bereavement assistance.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to ensure that IMPACT Community Action can immediately begin providing low income residents with tenant based rental assistance and other supportive services.
Fiscal Impact: Total appropriation is $100,000.00 and is available in the 2019 budget within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with IMPACT Community Action in support of the Eviction Prevention Program; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $100,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, low-income residents in the City of Columbus are in need of tenant based rental assistance and other supportive services; and,
WHEREAS, IMPACT Community Action provides supportive services that deliver crisis intervention strategies to stabilize households and strengthen self-sufficiency; and,
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council is committed to the Eviction Prevention Program, which aims to keep residents in their homes, and provide legal counsel for residents facing an eviction; and,
WHEREAS, $100,000.00 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for appropriation to provide for this need; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of City Council in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with IMPACT Community Action to allow it to begin providing additional tenant based rental assistance and other supportive services; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with IMPACT Community Action in support of the Eviction Prevention Program.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 5: That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.