by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 12/97) - One woman has taken it upon herself to fill a gap she feels is missing in Yellowknife's social service network.

"After looking at the Salvation Army and looking at the Yellowknife Women's Centre, I feel there is a need for a non-partisan, non-denominational resource centre," said Anne Marie Habibi, herself a volunteer at the Yellowknife Women's Centre.

Part of Habibi's plan is to provide a centre where low-income men, women and families can become more active participants in the community and become involved in making improvements to it.

"If they had a place where they were encouraged to be participants, I think they would put time into that place ... and themselves," said Habibi.

Along with providing access to the basics -- food, clothing and furniture -- Habibi envisions the centre as housing the Yellowknife Food Bank, along with a hot-lunch program, classes and workshops relating to personal, family or community well-being and a place for community outreach workers to work.

Habibi also hopes to provide a means for children from low-income families to be guaranteed a place in music, art or sport classes.

Habibi is currently in negotiation to set up the Family Resource Centre in the old IGA building, located across the street from the Bellanca building.

The one stumbling block Habibi is currently running up against is funding. Two proposal submissions to city council have elicited the same response: no funding available here.

Undaunted, Habibi is continuing to search for a way to make the Family Resource Centre a reality.