Community Health and Welfare

Councilmember Charleta Tavares has been a consistent leader in advocating socially conscience public policy that meets the needs of the less fortunate residents of Columbus.  Below are several initiatives that work to protect the city's social fabric.

Children's Hospital Poison Control Center

Since 2003, Council annually restored funding for the Poison Control Center.  Total dollar allocation in that period has been $334,000. Annually the center handles the needs of over 142,000 patients.

Housing Trust Fund and Housing Preservation Fund

In 2001 Council and the Administration created a dedicated funding source to support community-wide affordable housing efforts through the Columbus/Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Corp. To date, with a portion of the Hotel/Motel receipts, Council has allocated about $4.8 million.  Through June 2005 the Trust had committed $14.8 million to projects, resulting in the production of more than 1,550 apartments and homes.

In 2005, Council created a Housing Preservation Fund, the first use of City bonds to support housing for needy families. The Housing Preservation Fund started with $2 million: the Emergency Shelter Rehabilitation at $250,000 assists homeless shelters with major repairs and equipment needs to maintain the housing safety-net system; and the Home Safe and Sound, Infill Housing Development, and Acquisition/Rehabilitation/Resale efforts at $1,750,000 expand service for seniors and those on fixed incomes.

Maintained health center network funding and support services funding

• Council restored nearly $1 million in funding during the 2003 to 2005 period years to maintain existing critical life support service levels for low-income families.
• Restored over $1.5 million in 2003 and 2004 to maintain critical social services for low-income families.
• Restored nearly $1.1 million to the City’s affordable Housing effort Rebuilding Lives – transitional housing for the homeless.
• Added $175,000 to the 2006 budget to support the efforts of Access Columbus, a volunteer physician referral network.