Title
To Recognize and Celebrate Michelle Heritage for Her Service to the Community Shelter Board (CSB)
Body
WHEREAS, the Community Shelter Board (CSB) is an invaluable partner in the effort to reduce homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, from 2010 to 2022, Michelle Heritage served as the Executive Director of CSB, during which time she oversaw a dramatic expansion of CSB’s impact and budget from $12M to $57M and helped 52,000 residents end their homelessness; and
WHEREAS, under Michelle’s leadership, CSB introduced a one-of-a-kind Homelessness Prevention Network, focusing on system-level interventions to ensure housing for vulnerable families; and
WHEREAS, Michelle led a comprehensive campaign to build a new shelter and overflow beds, raising over $30 million for a strategic redesign of the homeless system and a new case management system to rapidly connect people who are homeless with employment and job training, medical care, and behavioral health care to help them remain stable; and
WHEREAS, Michelle guided CSB through the COVID-19 pandemic, partnering with hospitals and local public health officials to develop safety protocols in shelters, coordinating isolation and quarantine options, and advocating for and receiving American Rescue Plan Act funds to place crisis prevention specialists in every shelter and supportive housing location;
WHEREAS, Michelle leaves CSB in a better state than she found it, ensuring that her successor will be able to continue serving Columbus and Franklin County at the highest level possible; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council recognizes and celebrates Michelle Heritage for her service to the Community Shelter Board (CSB)