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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $125,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services’ Help Me Help You Program Special Fund by $125,000.00 for the purpose of funding the Help Me Help You program.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, be and is hereby authorized to accept funds in the amount of $125,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of funding the Help Me Help You program.
§ 2. That the funds received from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services are hereby appropriated to the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by increasing estimated revenues by $125,000.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $125,000.00, and allotting to the Department of Justice Services’ Help Me Help You Program Special Fund the sum of $125,000.00 for the purpose of funding the Help Me Help You program.
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
O&R Transmittal Letter
DATE: August 7, 2025 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald, II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Finance & Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Human Services
FROM: Dawn Barber, Director of Justice Services
RE: Adopt and Appropriate Funds from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To accept funds in the amount of $125,000 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and appropriate $125,000 to the Special Fund account entitled “Help Me Help You Program” in the FY2026 budget for the Department of Justice Services. The Help Me Help You Program provides reentry navigation and continuum of care programming, which is designed to help participants overcome barriers to reduce disparities and improve their access to providers and enhance outcomes. Reentry navigation is the connection for all justice-involved individuals and their families with the goal of strengthening communities by enhancing participants’ overall wellness, reducing recidivism, and improving public safety.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) invited the City of Richmond to apply for State General Funds Appropriation in the amount of $125,000 of state general funds to support the Help Me Help You Program for grant period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: After introduction, the proposed ordinance will be referred to a future Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting for discussion, where the public is encouraged to attend and provide comments. After the committee’s recommendation to City Council, Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed ordinance.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: The funds are in alignment to support the City of Richmond’s Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention (GVPI) Framework. This framework is designed to guarantee that those directly impacted by gun violence, community members, and direct service providers have an opportunity to be heard by the Mayor, the Richmond City Council, and the City’s Administration and includes key elements such as hospital-based crisis intervention and intensive case management for families, friends, and survivors of violence community-based credible messengers program and trauma response grassroots support to build capacity the establishment of a shooting and homicide review board to better understand the issue of gun violence, and prevent future shootings
FISCAL IMPACT: Matching funds are not required for this grant.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 08, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 22, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee (September 17, 2025)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Justice Services and Department of Budget and Strategic Planning
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Amends Ord. No. 2025-057, adopting the annual budget
ATTACHMENTS: Grant award package to include the Statement of Grant Acceptance
STAFF: Dawn D. Barber
Director of Justice Services
(804) 646-3763