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To amend Ord. No. 2025-057, adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring funds in the amount of $80,000.00 from the Outside Agencies and Central Appropriations agency Venture Richmond, Inc. line item in the Organizational Subsidy category for the Administration and Finance portfolio and to appropriating such transferred funds in the amount of $80,000.00 to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for the purpose of funding CARITAS Surge Shelter Operations.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That Article I, Section 1 of Ordinance No. 2025-057, adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted a General Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and made appropriations pursuant thereto, is hereby amended by transferring funds in the amount of $80,000.00 from the Outside Agencies and Central Appropriations agency “Venture Richmond, Inc.” line item in the Organizational Subsidy category for the Administration and Finance portfolio and appropriating such $80,000.00 to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for the purpose of funding CARITAS Surge Shelter Operations.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: April 10, 2026 EDITION: 2
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackon, DCAO for Finance and Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services
FROM: Eric Mai, Policy Advisor
RE: To transfer $80,000 from the Venture Richmond, Inc. (for operational costs) line to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for the purpose of funding CARITAS Surge Shelter Operations.
ORD. OR RES. No. ___________________________________________
PURPOSE: To amend Ord. No. 2025-057, adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring funds in the amount of $80,000.00 from the Outside Agencies and Central Appropriations agency Venture Richmond, Inc. line item in the Organizational Subsidy category for the Administration and Finance portfolio and to appropriating such transferred funds in the amount of $80,000.00 to the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for the purpose of funding CARITAS Surge Shelter Operations.
BACKGROUND:
On July 28, 2025, Council adopted Ord. No. 2025-163 to allocate a total sum of $309,000.00 to a new line item in the Outside Agencies and Central Appropriations called “CARITAS (Surge Shelter Operations)” for the purpose of providing surge overflow shelter operations during inclement winter weather season.
In January 2026, Winter Storm Fern brought dangerous freezing temperatures and icy conditions to Richmond. Both Governor Spanberger and Mayor Avula declared States of Emergency. To protect people from the extreme cold, the City needed to keep its Surge overflow shelter - operated by CARITAS - open longer than originally planned. The City extended its existing contract with CARITAS for up to 60 additional days of shelter operations through March 31, 2026.
Virginia law allows localities to act quickly during declared emergencies to protect public safety, without going through the normal process. The City used that authority to extend the contract.
This ordinance seeks to reconcile the FY26 General Fund Budget by reappropriating the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services for spending incurred during this State of Emergency. Outside Agency funding allocated to Venture Richmond, Inc. for operational support in the FY26 General Fund Budget is being reappropriated for this use after Venture Richmond notified the City that these funds were not needed for the appropriate purpose in FY26.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: N/A
STRATEGIC INITATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: RES. 2020-R031 expressing support for the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness 2020-2030 and RES. 2020-R037 requesting the CAO to develop a housing policy plan to address homelessness and affordable housing in the City of Richmond, along with Mayoral Action Plan Pillars, Thriving Families and Thriving Neighborhoods.
FISCAL IMPACT: This will increase the Neighborhood and Community Services budget by $80,000.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: June 8, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: June 22, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Budget and Strategic Planning, Neighborhood and Community Services, Office of the DCAO for Human Services
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Res. No. 2020-R031; Res. No. 2020-R037; Ord. No. 2024-099; Ord. No. 2025-057, Ord. No. 2025-163
ATTACHMENTS: CARITAS Contract Agreement
STAFF: Eric Mai, Policy Advisor, Office of the DCAO for Human Services