Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with The Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the Eviction Prevention Program created by Councilmember Favor. The grant will provide funding for an additional Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) attorney to advocate on behalf of residents facing eviction.
On average, every day 75 tenant families receive eviction paperwork from Franklin County Municipal Court. About half of those go to their eviction hearings. This is about 9,000 tenant families each year. A single TAP attorney would expect to keep approximately 100 tenant families in their homes and out of the homeless shelter system each year. This ordinance authorizes the grant agreement, as well as the transfer, appropriation and expenditure of $50,000.00 within the Department of Development's General Fund.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to ensure that The Legal Aid Society of Columbus can immediately begin providing additional legal counsel at eviction court on behalf of Columbus residents facing eviction.
Fiscal Impact: Total appropriation is $50,000.00 and is available in the Department of Development, Housing Division 2019 General Fund Budget.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the Eviction Prevention Program; to authorize a transfer of funds within the general fund; to authorize an expenditure in the Department of Development, Housing Division, and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, low-income residents in the City of Columbus are in need of legal services to assist them in eviction court; and,
WHEREAS, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus provides assistance in advocating on behalf of residents facing eviction; 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, funds are available in the Department of Development, Housing Division 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 the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to allow it to begin providing additional assistance in advocating on behalf of residents facing eviction; 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 the Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the Eviction Prevention Program.
SECTION 2: That the transfer of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), object class 01 (Personnel) to Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), in object class 03 (Services) 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 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 6: 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.