CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




 Agenda Date:          May 18, 2020

 Action Required:      Appropriation

 Presenter:            Kaki Dimock, Director, Department of Human Services

 Staff Contacts:       Kaki Dimock, Director, Department of Human Services

 Title:                Appropriation from Department of Human Services Fund Balance
                       for the Pathways/Community Resource Hotline - $400,000


Background:

Department of Human Services is seeking an appropriation of $400,000 from the Department of
Human Services Fund Balance to provide emergency finance assistance to community members
through the Pathways/Community Resource Hotline. This hotline is maintained by the Department of
Human Services in order to provide immediate financial relief to community members experiencing
a financial crisis.

Discussion:

Due to the pandemic crisis, requests for financial assistance through the resource hotline have
increased dramatically, resulting in the full distribution of previously appropriated funds from City
Council. Most callers are seeking assistance with rent or housing costs which are paid directly to the
landlord.

At this writing, there are approximately 500 requests for financial support from the city pending and
every expectation that this need will continue over the next few months.

The department seeks to use $50,000 of these funds to provide one-time financial assistance to
people ineligible for the Federal stimulus due to their designation as undocumented, immigrant,
migrant or domestic worker as a match to the $250,000 grant to the community from the Open
Society Foundation’s Emma Lazarus Campaign on Cities. $350,000 will be used to fund emergency
financial relief payments as described above.

Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan:

This appropriation request is aligned with city council’s vision; specifically the areas of
‘economic sustainability’ and ‘quality housing opportunities for all’.
Community Engagement:

The Department of Human Services is in regular contact with community members in need,
community partners addressing financial needs, and partners in Albemarle County to ensure that we
are able to be responsive and comprehensive, particularly during this health and economic crisis.
Hotline operators have engaged with over 4,000 community members in need as part of the
partnership with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and United Way of Greater
Charlottesville.


Budgetary Impact:

Funding for this expenditure will be transferred to the General Fund from the Department Human
Services Fund balance. This transfer still leaves sufficient funding in the Department of Human
Services fund balance should funding be needed to manage unexpected changes in state or
federal funding in the coming months.


Recommendation:

Staff recommend approving the appropriation.


Alternatives:

Should council decide not to appropriate funds, community members will not receive assistance
from the city to address their financial need.


Attachments:

APPROPRIATION
                                      APPROPRIATION
 Appropriation of Human Services Fund Balance for the Pathways/Community Resource
                                      Hotline
                                            $400,000


       NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville,
Virginia, that the sum of $400,000 in Department of Human Services fund balance, is hereby
appropriated in the following manner:


Expenditures - $400,000
Fund: 213             Cost Center: 3411001000               G/L Account: 561105




Transfer From:

Fund: 213             Cost Center: 3411001000               G/L Account: 561105



Transfer To:

Revenue:
Fund: 105             Cost Center: 974302008000             G/L Account: 498010

Expense:
Fund: 105             Cost Center: 974302008000             G/L Account: 599999




        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the amount above appropriated from the Human
Services Fund balance for the Pathways/Community Resource Hotline shall not be deemed to
expire at the end of the fiscal year, but are hereby automatically appropriated in the ensuring
fiscal year unless altered by further action of City Council.