Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $110,000.00 of the 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to authorize the expenditure of up to $15,000.00 of general fund dollars, and to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a subrecipient
agreement with Homes on the Hill CDC to provide housing counseling services in an amount up to $125,000.00.
The department notified HUD certified housing counseling organizations of a request for proposal/notice of financial award to provide Housing Counseling Services. The RFP/NOFA was open from 4/27/2022-5/18/2022. One proposal was received and the Evaluation Committee determined the offeror was able to perform the work.
HUD certified housing counseling agencies provide housing counseling services to Columbus area individuals, families, or groups who are tenants, homeowners, homeless, or homebuyers in need of such services. The City is aware of the high number of homeowners who are struggling to pay their current mortgages and are in danger of being in foreclosure and tenants who have lost income and are in danger of being evicted. To address this, the City is making available funds to be directed for the use of housing counseling services.
Eligible housing counseling activities can include: pre-purchase, post-purchase, homeownership, rental, emergency, default/mortgage delinquency, homeless, and reverse mortgage counseling for senior homeowners.
The department anticipates modifying this agreement for the remainder of the city’s Action Plan with HUD. Based upon mutual agreement, the department would submit legislation to modify the agreement to add additional funds for program years 2023 and 2024.
This legislation represents appropriation for a part of the CDBG portion of the 2021 Action Plan, per Ordinance 2345-2020.
Emergency action is requested to allow for expenditure of grant funds by year end.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 005144 and expires 6/10/2023.
Fiscal Impact: $110,000.00 is available from the 2021 CDBG grant and Development’s 2022 General Fund budget.
Title
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $110,000.00 of 2021 Community Development Block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; to authorize the expenditure of $15,000.00 from the General Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Homes on the Hill CDC in an amount up to $125,000.00 to provide housing counseling services; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a participating jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is the recipient of Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council has approved the 2021 Action Plan, per Ordinance 2345-2020, as required by HUD; and
WHEREAS, the department advertised a request for proposal/notice for financial award for the for the Housing Counseling Services program from 4/27/2022-5/18/2022. One proposal was received and the Evaluation Committee found Homes on the Hill CDC able to perform the work; 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 a subrecipient agreement with Homes on the Hill CDC to provide housing counseling services appropriate and to expend said funds to allow the grant funds use by year end, thereby preserving 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 fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the sum of $110,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2248 (CDBG), from Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $110,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2248 (CDBG), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Homes on the Hill CDC to provide housing counseling services in an amount up to $125,000.00.
SECTION 5. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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 4. 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 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.