City Leaders Announce $5 Million in Funding for Columbus Non-Profits
Today, Mayor
Andrew J. Ginther, Council President Shannon Hardin and Councilmember Shayla
Favor announced the recipients of the city’s $5 million Elevate grant program. A
total of 48 non-profit human service agencies are receiving funds to focus on infant
vitality, homelessness and housing stability for immigrants and refugees.
“In
Columbus, we believe every resident deserves to be stably housed, and we
believe that every baby should reach his or her first birthday and beyond,” said
Mayor Ginther. “This funding from the City of Columbus will empower 48 local
organizations to change these trajectories for Columbus families.”
The grant funding will be
used to increase the organizational capacity of human service agencies, to be used
in conjunction with their general operating funds. Grant applicants were
evaluated based on need and services offered in three impact areas:
- Infant Vitality
-- ability to address social determinants of health and demonstrated effectiveness
in helping all babies -- regardless of race, zip code or family income –
celebrate their first birthdays.
- Homelessness -- work to reduce the
number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness by improving
access to obtain or maintain safe, affordable housing and supportive care
- Housing Stability for Immigrants and
Refugees – efforts to improve the access needed for supportive services for immigrants
and refugees
With data
surrounding infant vitality and homelessness, Mayor Ginther has specifically
targeted these areas through his Opportunity Rising equity agenda, the Columbus
Housing Strategy and many other city-wide initiatives, including partnering
with non-profits already working in this space.
“As we build back from the COVID pandemic,
capacity-building at local non-profits is a critical step to help partners
provide the goods and services our residents deserve,” said Council President
Shannon G. Hardin. “I’m excited to support these non-profits so they can better
support residents.”
This $5
million comes from the federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the City
of Columbus. To learn more about the Elevate grants, visit https://www.humanservicechamber.org/elevate/.