The Office of Homeless Advocacy will coordinate efforts in the public and private sectors to transition people from the streets to permanent housing. The office will also address the critical issues of providing mental health and addiction services to the homeless, as well as job training and placement.

For the first time since the creation of Area Commissions, Columbus City Council has empanelled a work group to study the role of neighborhood organizations and their interaction with city government. The work group is comprised of one representative from each of the fourteen Area Commissions, and representaives from the major civic organizations.

Council President Michael C. Mentel and Councilmembers Andrew J. Ginther and Hearcel F. Craig have been strong advocates for programs that aim to prevent domestic violence, or which give assistance to domestic violence victims. Annually, Columbus police respond to approximately 23,000 domestic violence calls and make approximately 5,000 domestic violence arrests.

Columbus City Council has been fighting to save one of Central Ohios most important natural resources from degradation--the Big Darby Creek Watershed. Designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of the Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere, encroaching development and storm runoff from farming threatens the rich array of wildlife found in the watershed, including 103 species of fish and 38 species of mussels, at least 104 species of birds, 35 species of mammals, and 33 species of reptiles and amphibians. More than 25 rare or endangered plant species are also dependent upon the corridor areas of the watershed.

Domestic abuse and animal cruelty often go hand in hand. Councilmember Michael C. Mentel leads the effort to form a community coalition of concerned advocates, including law enforcement agencies, animal rights groups, and child advocacy agencies, working to make it easier for women and children to escape domestic violence situations by giving a safe haven for family pets that might be under threat.

Led by the efforts of Council President Michael C. Mentel, the Columbus Lobbyist Registration provides greater accountability for those agents hired to lobby City Hall, while protecting the rights of citizens to meet with and address City Council members and the Administration at any time for any reason.