Fiscal Note
The 2017 Adopted Operating Budget includes $400,000 within the Community Development Division to support purchased service contracts for violence prevention. The proposed resolution authorizes utilizing up to $25,000 from this appropriation for rapid response efforts providing services to persons or households impacted by acts of violence. The resolution transfers $25,000 from purchased services to supplies within the CDD budget to provide such assistance.
Title
Amend the 2017 budget to authorize the use of up to $25,000 from the violence reduction peer support appropriation to support related, interim services.
Body
WHEREAS, in response to recommendations advanced by the Focused Interruption Coalition as part of a broader 15-Point Plan to Address Racial Disparities, Violence Prevention and Recidivism in the City of Madison, the Common Council appropriated $400,000 in the 2017 budget for peer support programming to reinforce other efforts to reduce violence in the community; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division (CDD) has been charged with administering peer support programming funds and developing a request for proposals (RFP), a process expected to culminate by late 2017 in the selection of one or more service providers to deliver these services; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor has convened a Rapid Response Team, comprised of city staff, other local officials and stakeholders, and members of the community, to identify rapid response strategies for violence prevention for use this summer and the remaining months of 2017; and
WHEREAS, persons impacted by violence are often confronted with unanticipated, short-term expenses associated with such things as injury or death, medical treatment, the loss of housing stability, personal safety concerns, access to transportation, or other basic household needs; and
WHEREAS, the provision of immediate, short-term assistance to help meet such needs can often help to de-escalate conflict and stabilize affected individuals and households following traumatic events.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the transfer of $25,000 from existing purchased services appropriation budgeted for peer support to supplies within CDD, from which CDD staff, in coordination with other available resources in the community, and using a process and protocols developed in consultation with the Rapid Response Team, and others as appropriate, may provide direct assistance to persons or families in order to enhance their safety and stability following a critical incident; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Community Development Division, at the end of the year, will report to the Mayor and Common Council on the use of these funds.