Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $2,150,555.00 of the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and authorizes the Director of Development to enter into contract with the Community Shelter Board for the administration of the grant in an amount up to $2,150,555.00.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program funds to the City of Columbus in the amount of $2,150,555.00, as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136. These special ESG-CV funds are to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
The Community Shelter Board (CSB), a non-profit organization, has been selected because of their history with the city and the homeless service community in the funding and coordination of services to homeless individuals and families, as well as, their established administrative procedures to effectively and efficiently implement such services. CSB is a recipient of the City’s regular ESG allocation of funds from HUD.
The Community Shelter Board (CSB) will establish new, temporary emergency shelters for two purposes: 1) de-concentration of existing emergency shelters to increase social distancing required to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and 2) isolation and quarantine of households experiencing homelessness who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have positive tests for COVID-19.
Use of funds for the new temporary shelters will include ESG-eligible Operations and Essential Services costs, including staffing, transportation, space, security, environmental services, laundry, food, and suppli...
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