Without a $45,000 contribution from the city of Homer, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula "will almost certainly be forced to close" its Homer Clubhouse, said Executive Director Brenda Pilgrim Ahlberg in a Jan. 27 letter to city officials.
"The decision will be difficult and we recognize that there will be significant impacts to the Homer community," the letter said. "Unless we are able to secure alternative revenue sources, closing programs will be the inevitable result."
The Boys and Girls Clubs, which operates seven peninsula clubs including one in Homer and another in Seldovia, has taken steps to balance its 2009 budget, including reducing hours of operation, reorganizing its health plan for employees and reaching out for corporate and private contributions, said Ahlberg, but is still coming up short.
Board President Mike Navarre, who joined Ahlberg in addressing the Homer City Council on the matter at their Monday meeting, said the organization's primary source of funding -- federal grants distributed by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America -- has declined due to the ongoing national economic crisis while its reserve funds -- about $100,000 -- have been totally depleted.
"We didn't want to come to local government," said Navarre.
"It's more difficult now because of the economic situation. We've closed some of our clubs and we've cut our programs and we've cut benefits to our employees.
"We didn't come down here to threaten closing the club. It's really just a matter that our resources are expended."
The cities of Seward and Soldotna have already agreed to pitch in $30,000 and $35,000 respectively, added Navarre, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula hoped to use those grants to leverage matching funds from the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly.
"You must understand that we did reduce our budget by about a million dollars and we're in some difficult times, too," said Homer mayor James Hornaday, who noted the city already contributes to the Homer Clubhouse via donated space and maintenance costs.
The Homer Clubhouse is located in a city-owned building that also houses classrooms and offices for Kachemak Bay Campus, Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska Anchorage. The physical space, maintenance and repair provided by the city are valued at more than $100,000, said city manager Walt Wrede.
The Homer Club serves around 150 kids at any one time, said Clubhouse Director Kelly Jackman, and operates on an annual budget of $140,000. It is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and offers a variety of after school activities and programs to local youth, including athletics, tutoring, arts and crafts and a technology lab.
The Homer Clubhouse has provided more than $1.2 million in funding to Homer youth since 2000, said Jackman, and is particularly vital to the community, as many local parents cannot afford to put their children in after school day care.
"I've watched these kids grow into strong and successful adults and there are countless success stories," said Jackman. "For some, it's essential for their survival. We're here to pave the way for the future of our community and personally, I see no greater way to invest in our future."
Last March, the Homer Club nearly had to eliminate its summer hours due to a similar budget shortfall. A $10,000 "challenge grant" from the Homer Foundation, matched by a $10,000 grant from ConocoPhillips, helped the club keep its doors open.
"It needs to get into the heart of the community that can provide funding," said Hornaday. "Somehow, we need to get more individuals to participate because it is a really good program."
Jenni Zielinski, who relies on the Homer Club for after school care of her son, called the club "a godsend."
"Everyone in this room was a kid at one time," she said at the council meeting. "I hope we can all remember that. I'd like to think that we can get to a place where we don't have to beg for money every year."
Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig@homernews.com.