Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of CelebrateOne, on behalf of the Office of the Mayor, to enter into a contract with The Center for Healthy Families, and authorizes funding in the amount of $1,352,000.00 from the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 and is administered by the U.S. Treasury.
The ERA program provides direct financial assistance to eligible households for expenses including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing. Additionally, funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and other administrative costs.
The Center for Healthy Families serves as a centralized hub for services that meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth, including housing. Funds will be used to help eligible families served by The Center for Healthy Families cover the costs of rent, utilities, and other housing-related expenses approved by the U.S. Treasury, both in arrears and to be incurred. Specifically, $800,000.00 will be used to provide 50-60 pregnant and parenting families with rental and utility assistance. $80,000.00 will be used for staffing and approved administrative costs. The remaining $472,000.00 will be used to cover costs associated with the Strong Start at Home program, which is being implemented in partnership with CelebrateOne and is designed to provide support to families for a period of up to 12 months.
Emergency action is requested to allow program services to be provided for this much needed community assistance at the earliest available time.
Fiscal Impact: $1,352,000.00 funding will be provided from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund, Fund 2208, which was established by Ordinance 0284-2021 and funded by the U.S. Treasury.
Title
To authorize the Executive Director of CelebrateOne, on behalf of the Office of the Mayor, to enter into a contract with The Center for Healthy Families; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,352,000.00 of Emergency Rental Assistance Funds to provide rental, utility, and other housing-related assistance to eligible families experiencing housing instability, which has been shown to impact maternal and child health outcomes; and to declare an emergency. ($1,352,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Office of the Mayor, CelebrateOne, desires to enter into a contract with The Center for Healthy Families to provide rental, utility, and other housing-related assistance to eligible households; and
WHEREAS, this assistance has been shown to impact maternal and child health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, the number to be served by this program will be 50-60 pregnant and parenting families and partner with CelebrateOne on the implementation of the Strong Start at Home program; and
WHEREAS, the City is the recipient of Emergency Rental Assistance Federal Funds from the U.S. Treasury Department; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to spend the funding from the Emergency Rental Assistance program before the deadline of December 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of the Mayor in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract and expend funds from the Emergency Rental Assistance program prior to the deadline of December 31, 2021 to be in compliance requirements established by the U.S. Treasury, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director of CelebrateOne on behalf of the Office of the Mayor is authorized to enter into contract with The Center for Healthy Families in the sum of $1,352,000.00 from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund, to provide rental,
utility, and other housing-related assistance to eligible households.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,352,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2208, Dept-Div 40-01, Subfund 220801, Object Class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 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 ordinance
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.