Columbus announces $8.8 million in support to city's homeless shelters and employees

The city of Columbus is spending $8.8 million from its federal American Rescue Plan funds to help support staffers and institute new mental-health programs at the city's homeless shelters.

The biggest chunk of that — $4.9 million — will be given to the Community Shelter Board to be spent on training and salaries for 37 new mental-health interventionists.

An additional $2 million will be used to help the YMCA move 350 men out of its Downtown shelter because the building is in need of repair. Most of the men have physical or mental disabilities, and the money will also be used to continue their YMCA services and pay for new housing.

Another $1.87 million will be spent to raise wages and pay hiring and retention bonuses to staffers working at the city's shelters.

"There is a clear and immediate need for shelter support in our community," Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said Thursday in announcing the funding distribution. "And thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we can offer valuable assistance right now to help them recover from recent challenges and become even more resilient to better serve individuals and families in Columbus."

Several officials at the news conference at the Hilltop YMCA mentioned their hope that the addition of embedded mental-health specialists in shelters would help reduce the burden on the Columbus Division of Police.

Ginther said in 2020 that police responded to more than 1,800 calls to the city’s supportive housing locations — for people who with disabilities, low incomes or recently homeless — and more than 600 calls to homeless shelters.

Erika Clark Jones, CEO of the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) of Franklin County, said the city police dispatchers have taken an average of 65 mental-health related calls a day so far in 2021.

Community Shelter Board executive director Michelle Heritage said the 37 interventionists will be hired, trained and placed in positions over the next three and a half years.

“We’re trying to move from a reactive approach — where the police and fire departments come out when someone is already in crisis — to a proactive approach,” Heritage said. “Let’s spend the resources upstream and keep people from going into crisis.”

More: Community Shelter Board employee steered over $350,000 to friends who were not landlords 

City Council President Shannon Hardin touted the money that will go toward boosting pay for workers at five locations: Lutheran Social Services' Faith Mission, Maryhaven, Southeast Men’s Shelter, YWCA Family Center and YMCA Van Buren Center.

“These are folks who love their jobs, but are struggling from burnout after more than a year of service amid a pandemic," Hardin said of the workers. "We’ve heard stories about employees being assaulted and themselves struggling with depression, so it’s time for us to stand up and support them.”

kgordon@dispatch.com

@kgdispatch