Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $4,905,000.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide financial support for 38 mental health specialists to the organization’s emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing programs and modify the scope of services of each grant agreement as needed without further City Council approval in order to align with the most current version of the federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
Ordinance 1201-2021 authorized the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate approximately $187,030,138.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as signed into law by the President of the United States on March 11, 2021.
Emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing locations are experiencing an increase in drug and alcohol use, violence, suicide attempts, and death because of mental health challenges and substance dependence. This trend was discernible before the COVID-19 pandemic and has accelerated during the health emergency.
These kinds of crises result in an excessive number of calls to police and emergency services, which often is not the most appropriate or cost-effective response.
Police officers are placed in dangerous and difficult situations when they are called to respond to and de-escalate volatile mental health crises. These interventions require specialized techniques that aren’t addressed in-depth in law enforcement training.
The Community Shelter Board proposes to embed 38 mental health specialists trained in crisis intervention on-site in homelessness programs to reduce deaths and violence, better support our vulnerable neighbors, and reduce police and ambulance runs.
The City proposes funding for the 38 mental health specialists using American Rescue Plan Act funding. Shelter and housing partners have limited funding and are unable to estab...
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