Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Urban League to provide rental and mortgage assistance to residents impacted by COVID-19. Columbus Urban League will provide rental and/or mortgage assistance to residents that have fallen behind on these rental and/or mortgage payments due to a financial hardship caused by COVID-19.
Columbus City Council is supporting this program with $300,000.00 in funding from the CARES Act fund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide the funds necessary to assist residents in need.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total appropriation is $300,000.00 and is available within the CARES Act fund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League in order to provide rental and mortgage assistance to residents impacted by COVID-19; to authorize a transfer of appropriations and an expenditure of $300,000.00 within the CARES Act fund, and to declare an emergency. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented job losses and affected the abilities of many Columbus residents to cover their basic needs, including rents and mortgages; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Columbus Urban League is to assist residents impacted by COVID-19 with rental and mortgage assistance; and
WHEREAS, the federal CARES Act has provided additional resources for states and cities across the country to address community needs as a result of the COVID outbreak; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding to provide rent and mortgage assistance is necessary to address residents who have fallen behind on payments due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, $300,000.00 is available in the CARES Act fund for appropriation and expenditure to provide for this need; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus City Council in that it is immediately necessary to authorize it to enter into a grant agreement to ensure that Columbus Urban League has the ability to offer this funding for these residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, for the immediate 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 Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Urban League to support Columbus residents impacted by COVID-19 with rental and mortgage assistance.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer appropriations within in the CARES Act fund, fund 2207, subfund 220702, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of $300,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the CARES Act fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: 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 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.