Drop-in centre struggling for funds

An inner-city youth drop-in centre in Winnipeg may be forced to close because it's run out of money.

The Joseph Beeper Spence Youth Drop-In Centre on Robinson has been operating on bingo funds for years.

However, much of that money was redirected to building repairs in the past year, said Nancy Flett, one of the managers at the centre.

Organizers have planned a weekend fundraiser to try raising $50,000 to help keep the centre afloat.

"You know, when you hear something like the Youth for Christ [crop-in cente] coming out and [the city automatically getting $225,000 for the next number of years that was a slap in the face," Flett said.

"It's not fair to all these other little programs that are out there in existence already."

Last month, in a controversial vote, city councillors approved a motion to contribute $2.5 million as well as land towards an $11-million Youth for Christ facility to be built at the corner of Main Street and Higgins Avenue.

The funding works out to approximately $225,000 annually over 10 years.

The federal government has also agreed to provide $3 million.

Flett has asked the province for financial help for her centre,which is namedafter her son, but has been turned down. She is now preparing to make a request to the city.

The fundraiser will be held Saturday night at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre at 45 Robinson Street.

Spence was killed in a drive-by shooting while walking down a North End street in 1995. He was mistaken for a gang member.