After 47 Years The Money Runs Out

DALLAS (AP) — A North Texas crisis center that for 47 years has provided services and support for people in distress is closing because it no longer has enough money to operate.  

Staffers and volunteers for the Contact Crisis Line in Dallas will answer their last calls Wednesday. About 47,000 calls this year came from people who were suicidal, victims of domestic violence or experiencing other crises.

Staff provided transportation to women leaving abusive relationships, helped pay for prescription medication and covered a variety of other expenses.

The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/1BhM5GG ) reports the center had an operating budget of about $1 million and for years programs were relatively easy to fund through grants and contributions from donors.

But more recently raising money for mundane expenses such as rent and electricity became difficult.