An organization that helps more than 7-hundred high- risk and homeless kids in the Duluth area each year, is facing a financial problem that could close its doors.

Life House is looking at a $30,000 deficit.

Unfortunately the national economy has taken a toll on this non profit haven for troubled teens.

It costs the crisis center around 900- thousand dollars a year to operate.

Providing services from emergency housing to mental health and chemical dependency care.

Up to 70 young people seek care from Life House every day.
Without an additional $30,000 the center may have to close at the end of this year.

"It's the end of 2008 and we have nothing left," said Kim Crawford, Executive Director for Life House.

That's bad news for some Life House beneficiaries.

"If they close now I'd probably be like lost because they help me with a lot of stuff and they help kind of keep me on track," said 20- year- old Jelayne Sargent. She's been been going to Life House since she was 17.

"I got pregnant and I got in the teen parent program and they helped me out with a lot of stuff like my whole pregnancy," Jelayne said.

She says she doesn't know what she'd do without Life House.

"I think I've used life house for almost everything they can give me here like housing and furniture and you know helping me move and stuff," said Jelayne.

"We have people here that they can talk to we have a warm meal every time for them to have something to eat. Many times this is the only place they're going to get a warm meal," Crawford said.

Life House is helping Jelayne get into the Certified Nursing Assistant program at Lake Superior College.

And they helped Lauren Beasley find a job and a house.

"I'd be really really bad off right about now if it wasn't for light house," said Beasley.

Crawford says Lutheran Social Services and The American Indian Community Housing Organization have been trying to help the crisis center, but they have programs of their own.

Those organizations also get some of same funding as Life House, and much of that is being cut, Michelle.

There's a benefit showing of "What's Your Point Honey" at Teatro Zucccone Wednesday night at 7:00pm

All the proceeds from that will go to Life House.

The center is always looking for volunteers and donations. They can be reached at 218-722-7431.