Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $8,102,095.00 of the anticipated FY 2020 Emergency Solutions Grant-CV Round 2 (ESG-CV2) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Development and authorizes the Director of Development to enter into agreement with the Community Shelter Board for the administration of the City's ESG-CV2 monies.
The City of Columbus received a letter of the awarded allocation dated June 9, 2020, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for these special Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG-CV) Program funds. The letter states that “HUD is allocating to your jurisdiction the amount of $8,102,095.00, as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136.”
These special ESG-CV2 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 work with its partners to continue to operate a shelter for isolation and quarantine to care for people experiencing homelessness who have COVID-19 or have been exposed. They will continue operation of the social distancing shelters and the isolation and quarantine shelter as an essential service for the next 24 months or until a vaccine is widely available.
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 supplies.
In addition, the Community Shelter Board will partner with Celebrate One to create a pilot program focused on ending homelessness among pregnant women in Franklin County by 2022. Use of ESG-eligible funds for this initiative will include rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention costs, such as rental assistance, case management, staffing, transportation, and supplies.
This grant is authorized under the 2020 Action Plan, per Ordinance 2162-2019.
Emergency legislation is needed in order to continue implementation of efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on behalf of persons experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this agreement in the amount of $8,102,095.00 is supported by the anticipated 2020 Emergency Solutions Grant-CV Round 2 (ESG-CV2) awarded to the City of Columbus by HUD under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number 004795 and expires 1/8/2021.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $8,102,095.00 of the anticipated FY 2020 Emergency Solutions Grant-CV Round 2 (ESG-CV2) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Development; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into agreement with the Community Shelter Board for the administration of the City's Emergency Solutions Grant Round 2 (ESG-CV2) monies; and to declare an emergency. ($8,102,095.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a participating jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2020; and
WHEREAS, the City is a current recipient of Emergency Solutions Grant funds from HUD; and
WHEREAS, the City received a letter dated June 9, 2020, of an awarded allocation of special Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136; and
WHEREAS, these special ESG-CV2 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
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into an agreement the Community Shelter Board; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into agreement with Community Shelter Board in order to continue implementation of efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on behalf of persons experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of $8,102,095.00 is appropriated upon receipt of Notice of Award in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), Grant Number to be determined by the Auditor, in Object Class 03 (Contractual Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $8,102,095.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $8,102,095.00 for the purpose of preventing, preparing for, and responding to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance; and supporting additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19
SECTION 7. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding not for profit service agreements.
SECTION 8. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.