Label
Healing & Compassion Fund
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement
Malcolm Cunningham
Revised
Title
Authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the United Way of Greater Toledo (UWGT) to serve as the fiscal and administrative agent for the Healing & Compassion Fund pilot project; authorizing the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $36,400 from the General Fund; waiving the competitive bidding provisions of TMC Ch.187; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) convenes the Community Action Table (CAT), a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders engaged in community violence intervention and prevention work in Toledo. Stakeholders include traditional public safety, communities impacted by violence, survivors, community-based organizations, mental health agencies, funders, health systems, advocacy groups, policy-makers, faith-based organizations, school systems, and youth.
The CAT Victim & Survivor Services working group identified several challenges faced by those impacted by gun violence, including access to basic needs, respite, relocation, home modifications and repairs after violent incidents, and burial costs. The Healing & Compassion Fund will supplement existing resources while helping to mitigate barriers. Current barriers include: fewer than 40% of Ohio Crime Victim Compensation claims were awarded in fiscal year 2023; the number of victims impacted by gun violence outstrips the resources available; victims’ compensation is typically reimbursement-based; application processes are typically difficult to navigate and not timely; and applicants can be disqualified for myriad reasons.
This ordinance authorizes the City of Toledo to contract with the United Way of Greater Toledo to serve as the fiscal and administrative agent for the Compassion and Healing Fund pilot at a rate of 4% of all funds received. Services include: (1) receiving, depositing, and acknowledging funds received on behalf of the Compassion and Healing Fund; (2) ensuring funds are disbursed once authorized fund representatives approve based on an established approval process; (3) fiscal agent accounting controls; (4) quarterly reporting on funds received, expended, and how funds have been utilized; (5) including the Fund in the United Way 211 database to ensure it reaches community.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into a contract with the United Way of Greater Toledo, under terms and conditions that shall be approved by the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Safety and the Director of Law.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $36,400 is authorized from the General Fund Account Code 1001-10201-3325001STDRGV for the Healing and Compassion Fund pilot project.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the city to waive the competitive bid requirements of TMC Chapter 187, due to the fact that the contracting agency has the requisite experience as a fiscal agent of donor advised funds and, with United Way 211, has the personnel and infrastructure needed to effectively advertise and refer community members to the fund.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Finance is authorized to issue warrant or warrants against the above listed Account Code in an amount not to exceed $36,400 in payment of the above authorized obligations upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective in order to timely establish the Healing and Compassion Fund.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council