Columbus City Council voted Monday night to add $13 million in amendments to Mayor Andrew Ginther's proposed budget for the next year, including nearly doubling the amount of aid to the Community Shelter Board for the their homeless shelters.
The shelter agency will now get $10.7 million for next year. That's an increase of $5 million to Ginther's original proposal.
Community Shelter Board's President and CEO Shannon Isom asked for more funding last month as frigid cold temperatures impacted central Ohio. Each year, the agency helps thousands of people with homelessness prevention, shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing.
Community Shelter Board's Chief Program Effectiveness Officer Steve Skovensky said the now-expired American Rescue Plan Act funds previously covered the cost. Now that the federal funds have dried up, the agency had to ask the city for more money to continue their services.
"This investment is going to help cover what that gap would have been, and to really keep a seamless transition from one fiscal year to the next, where our partners would not have to reduce beds or reduce services in the community," Skovensky said.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said in a press release the funds will help shelters stay operational for now, but long term solutions to help homeless populations find housing stability should be found.
"Columbus increasingly has big-city problems, which means we need big-city solutions," Hardin said.
Skovensky agreed and said that conversation should continue and Community Shelter Board plans to be part of it.
"I think there's going to be conversation and plans on what kind of sustainable funding model looks like for that basic safety net of shelter, while we also look at the the annual funds that are needed for housing and outreach and prevention," Skovensky said.
The press release described Columbus' budget this year as "tight" and "requiring tough decisions to balance immediate needs with long-term financial responsibility."
The release said the amendments made to the budget will address a $1.5 million budget shortfall for 2025, caused by a slight revenue shortfall and a slight over-expenditure.
"This gap will be closed through reallocating dormant restricted-use funds, adjusting the Building & Zoning Services fund, restructuring a Department of Technology grant agreement, and reducing funding for economic development incentive payments," the press release said.
The other amendments by city council include:
- $2 million for the Columbus Promise program
- Housing initiatives related to eviction prevention and transit-oriented development
- Workforce development initiatives
- Human services partnerships, including nutrition programs, emergency shelters, extreme weather response, and support for veterans and seniors
- Support for small and minority businesses, including the Urban Business Connection Program and the Experience Columbus Minority Business Program
- Continuation of longstanding Council programs, such as Cleaner Columbus and Project Taillight
- Initiatives to support immigrants and refugee resettlement organizations
- A study on City historic preservation
The council will vote on the $1.2 billion general fund budget at its next meeting on Monday.
