City life center in gary, indiana faces closure without urgent funding

For over six decades, the City Life Center in Gary, Indiana has provided a vital after-school program for local children, but now the organization is on the brink of collapse due to a lack of state and federal funding.

Center's dire financial situation threatens to close doors

Founded in 1959, City Life Center has served as a safe haven for Gary's youth, offering meals, tutoring, and a range of activities. However, the center's executive director, Dr. Joshua Austin, warned that without urgent support, the program will be forced to close.

Austin explained that 60% of the center's annual operating budget of over $800,000 comes from state and federal funding, which has been severely cut. This has resulted in a significant increase in fees for parents, who must now pay $100 per month for each child to attend the center's programs. Many families in the impoverished area struggle to afford these costs.

Linda Hines, a volunteer and mother of three, has seen firsthand the impact the center has had on her children's lives.