Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $590,000 to support winter warming centers that will help keep unhoused individuals safe during dangerous weather. Services and plans will cover the following three components:
Daytime Warming Centers
Unhoused residents will be able to utilize libraries, recreation centers, and a handful of churches to stay warm during the day this winter. An online interactive map will help individuals locate the various warming centers across the city. This map will outline the hours of operation and any additional services that will be provided on site. Homeless outreach teams will focus their engagement high traffic locations, working to enroll unhoused residents in street outreach if they are interested and help develop a housing plan with them. This online map will be developed into a hot card that can be available at public buildings and for nonprofit partners. The Coalition for the Homeless and Community Development for All People (CD4AP) - two key partners in this effort - will host 2 “hub” locations with additional resources, services, and dedicated staff.
Overnight Shelter
Each year, Community Shelter Board develops a plan to handle winter overflow. Due to a tight housing market and reduced outflow from the shelters, it is worthwhile to provide residents additional choices during the winter months. The Coalition for the Homeless and CD4AP are seeking to operate overnight warming centers from the start of December to the end of February to augment the shelter spaces available for unhoused residents.
Extreme Cold Events
During level 3 snow emergencies, shelters keep individuals inside and remain open all day. Additionally, homeless outreach teams conduct specific, concentrated engagement in an attempt to get individuals inside ahead of extreme weather events. The Coalition’s two 24 hour sites would continue operating as normal. CRPD Community Recreation Centers will open five regional Community Recreation Centers and will extend operating hours, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. to accommodate those who need a warm place in extreme cold (below 0 degrees).
Expenses to support the three components include but are not limited to staff salaries and benefits, facility rentals and security, food for individuals at the facilities, COTA passes, and administrative costs. It is estimated that approximately $130,000 of the funds will be used to provide meals to individuals at the various warming facilities.
These services cannot be provided by existing city employees as they do not have the resources to perform the program services
Emergency action is requested to allow Community Shelter Board to provide warming services to unhoused individuals as the temperatures are dropping in the winter months.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding of $295,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund (100018) and funding of $295,000.00 is available and will be transferred from the General Fund Citywide Account to the Department of Development General Fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 004795 and expires on 01/10/24.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service agreement with Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $590,000.00 for the purpose of supporting winter warming services; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $295,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund; to authorize the transfer of $295,000.00 from the General Fund Citywide Account to the Department of Development General Fund Budget; to authorize the total expenditure of $590,000.00 from the 2022 General Fund Budget; to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior the approval of the purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($590,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need in the community to provide winter warming services to unhoused individuals to protect them from dangerous winter weather; and
WHEREAS, Community Shelter Board will coordinate the effort with other partners such as Community Development for All People and the Coalition for the Homeless; and
WHEREAS, there will be three components to the program: Daytime Warming Centers, Overnight Shelter, and Extreme Cold Events; and
WHEREAS, expenses to support the three components include but are not limited to staff salaries and benefits, facility rentals and security, food for clients at the facilities, COTA passes, and administrative costs; 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 of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract to allow Community Shelter Board to provide warming services to unhoused individuals as the temperatures are dropping in the winter months;
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $590,000.00 to support warming center programs for the unhoused population during the winter months, to pay for food provided to clients as part of the warming center programming, and to approve purchases incurred prior to the establishment of the purchase order.
SECTION 2. 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 $295,000.00 is appropriated in fund 1000 (General Fund), subfund 100018 (Neighborhoods Initiatives Subfund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $295,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 1000 (General Fund), subfund 100018 (Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $295,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept.-Div 45-01 (Financial Management), object class 10 (Transfer Out Operating) to Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $295,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. This Not-for-Profit Service Contract is entered into under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.29 as City staff do not have the resources to perform the program services.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 9. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.