Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless to replenish emergency supplies for the City’s unsheltered population. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to the Coalition to support these efforts, as the organization does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
The proposed agreement with Council will allow Columbus Coalition for the Homeless to work with other organizations to purchase survival items for unhoused community members impacted by the flooding and storms. Many unhoused individuals had belongings swept away during the extreme weather. The Coalition is partnering with organizations working directly with people impacted, and funding will allow it to purchase items for caseworkers that are in the Coalition’s larger network such as Southeast Healthcare, Maryhaven, The Open Shelter, CD4AP, and others.
Council is proposing support of $20,000.00 for these efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: $20,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for the Coalition to immediately replenish emergency supplies for unsheltered residents from recent damaging storms.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, in support of emergency supply replenishment for the City’s unsheltered population; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to assist unsheltered individuals with emergency supplies; and
WHEREAS, our homeless population in Columbus has continued to grow into 2026, with unsheltered homelessness increasing by 43% since last year; and
WHEREAS, many emergency supplies a...
Click here for full text