General Neighborhood Updates

Hello everyone – sharing a group of updates from our Community Liaison that cover a wide variety of topics.  Please see the list below:

1. City of Columbus Mask Ordinance: All individuals in Columbus are required to wear masks in indoor areas accessible to the public and within the confines of public or private transportation regulated by the City of Columbus. When you are outdoors and cannot maintain 6 feet of distance, you also must wear a mask.  Attached is the mask requirement FAQ translated into the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Kinyarwanda, Maay Maay, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Tigrinya.  Please note that guidance and directives continue to evolve.  For more information about the mask ordinance, visit: https://www.columbus.gov/Templates/Detail.aspx?id=2147516007
2. Beat the Heat: LifeCare Alliance’s The Beat the Heat Fan Campaign benefits central Ohio’s most vulnerable residents during extreme heat emergencies. Last year, LifeCare Alliance collected and distributed more than 2,000 fans!  To inquire about how to get a fan, or how to donate a new fan, call 614-437-2870 or visit https://www.lifecarealliance.org/fans/
3. Live calls to 311 are back! : Call 311 and speak to a customer service representative Monday to Friday from 8AM to 5PM.  Requests for service can also be submitted online at 311.columbus.gov, or use the My Columbus mobile app, and by e-mail to 311@columbus.gov.
4. Rental Assistance: As July rent comes due, this is a reminder that South Side Thrive is assisting residents from 43206 & 43207 in applying for financial assistance from Impact’s Hope Fund. Contact: (614) 722-6539 (leave voicemail) or sarah.lenkay@nationwidechildrens.org.
5. Walk in Recovery: Walk In Wednesdays are being provided to assist people with immediate linkage to medical detox for alcohol and/or drug addiction, or an assessment for outpatient treatment.  During the process individuals will be provided health screenings, basic wound care, HIV/EIS testing and HepA vaccinations if they choose.  There will also be a meal provide and assistance with obtain a copy of your birth certificate and a state identification card.  For further information, please call 614-645-6843.  https://www.columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Alcohol-and-Drug-Abuse/Walk-in-for-Recovery—Summer-2020/
6. How to Speak at Council:  Until further notice, Columbus City Council meetings will be held in a teleconference format, with members attending via WebEx.  Follow this link for the toolkit on how to testify at Council during COVID-19.  https://www.columbus.gov/council/toolkit/rules-for-speaking-at-city-council/
7. Utility Aggregation:  Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced in mid-February that he would pursue a community-choice energy-aggregation program to reach 100% green power by 2022. City Council is voting on July 20 to file the paperwork for a November ballot issue that would “fundamentally change the way that the community addresses energy and climate change”.  Watch the hearing Councilmember Dorans held earlier this week: https://youtu.be/fPDuLEmqduk
8. CARES Act Grants: The City of Columbus announced that $15 million CARES Act funding is available to nonprofit human services providers to ease the impact of COVID-19. The Request for Proposals is now available on the City’s website at https://www.columbus.gov/humanservicesfundingannouncement/  The City has streamlined the application process, making it possible for organizations to access funding quickly through a single electronic application that will be managed by United Way of Central Ohio. Grant applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. July 27, 2020, and will be announced August 31, 2020.
9. Columbus Library: Visit the website for up to date information and links to the summer reading challenge, ebook downloads and more.  https://www.columbuslibrary.org/
10. Press Releases:  For the latest Press Releases from Mayor Ginther, https://www.columbus.gov/mayor/News/Press-Releases/ or follow: https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofcolumbus
11. For more COVID 19 resources: For testing sites, questions, resources, factsheets and more, visit:  www.columbus.gov/coronavirus