ORDINANCE NO. 250228
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Sponsor: Councilmember Wes Rogers
Authorizing the Director of Neighborhood Services to expend $487,600.00 from the Refugee and Immigrant Services Account in the General Fund pursuant to contracts with Della Lamb Community Services and Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City to provide emergency housing assistance and case management services.
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WHEREAS, Della Lamb Community Services (Della Lamb) and Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) provide critical support to individuals and families who have been displaced from their home countries due to persecution, conflict, or other extraordinary circumstances, assisting them in rebuilding their lives in Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, those served by these programs arrive in the United States after undergoing extensive security and medical screenings, with authorization to work immediately, eligibility for legal permanent residency after one year, and the ability to apply for citizenship after five years; and
WHEREAS, Della Lamb, founded in 1897, has a long-standing mission of welcoming and supporting newcomers to Kansas City, helping individuals and families secure housing, employment, and access to essential services; and
WHEREAS, JVS, founded in 1949 to support Holocaust survivors, has expanded its services to welcome people from diverse backgrounds, offering a comprehensive system of support in community integration, workforce development, and health and wellness; and
WHEREAS, Della Lamb and JVS are currently serving 309 individuals who recently arrived in Kansas City and are in critical need of housing assistance, access to healthcare, education, and job placement services; and
WHEREAS, the funding model for these programs relies on per capita reimbursements, and both organizations are facing a financial gap that threatens their ability to provide essential services to individuals who are working to establish stability in Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, the total amount needed to sustain housing assistance and case management services for individuals currently receiving support is approximately $487,600.00, which will provide two months of housing assistance at an average cost of $1,700.00 per month per household and staff support at $1,200.00 per household; and
WHEREAS, providing this emergency funding will ensure that newly arrived families in Kansas City have stable housing, access to critical services, and the necessary support to secure employment and achieve long-term self-sufficiency; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the Director of Neighborhood Services is hereby authorized to expend the sum of $216,200.00 from funds previously appropriated in the General Fund Refugee and Immigrant Services Account No. 25-1000-572516-B pursuant to a contract with Della Lamb Community Services for the purposes of providing emergency housing assistance and case management services to individuals in compliance with state and federal law, including but not limited to 8 U.S.C. § 1621.
Section 2. That the Director of Neighborhood Services is hereby authorized to expend the sum of $271,400.00 from funds previously appropriated in the General Fund, Refugee and Immigrant Services Account No. 25-1000-572516-B pursuant to a contract with Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City for the purposes of providing emergency housing assistance and case management services to individuals in compliance with state and federal law, including but not limited to 8 U.S.C. § 1621.
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I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.
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Tammy L. Queen
Director of Finance
Approved as to form:
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Bret R. Kassen
Associate City Attorney