The idea struck Evanston resident Andrea Lee while she was on the phone. Lee, a single mother of three, told a friend she was frustrated with the lack of support for parents in her south Evanston community.

“While talking, us women realized that we needed to come together rather than work against each other,” said Lee, 32.

The idea: To start Women Helping Women, a nonprofit community center on Howard Street where children could go for homework help and recreation. Most important, Lee sees the center as a way to keep kids away from crime.

“This is something desperately needed,” Lee said. “I live here and I see kids every day just hanging out at Brummel Park. They have no structure or guidance.”

The center would be a place where students could socialize — but also work with parents, teachers and other community members to set academic goals and get help with homework, Lee said.

Despite Lee’s vision for Women Helping Women, she faces a hurdle: money. Lee applied for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds last month, but her group was one of 25 that applied.

The city’s CDBG committee can only distribute $400,500, but the requests totaled more than $900,000. Some groups may not receive any money at all when the committee makes its recommendations later this month.

City CDBG planner Sally Lufkin said the committee considers many factors when deciding who receives the grants.

“Women Helping Women probably has a smaller chance because they are in the formative stages and don’t yet have a track record,” Lufkin said. “But if they don’t get the money they want, they could always apply again since we are on an annual funding cycle.”

Lee said she prefers not to think about that outcome.

“We are just thinking positively right now,” she said. “We also have other fund-raisers planned to raise support and gain recognition in the community.”

Though Lee has no experience starting a nonprofit, she said feedback has been encouraging.

“I’ve talked to kids and they are all really excited,”she said.

Lee’s friend Alicia Skipworth has taken over consulting and event planning for the nonprofit. Skipworth, who has a master’s degree in business, said she has a lot of ideas for raising money — with or without the federal help.

“We are planning our first fund-raising ball in August for the entire community,” Skipworth said. “We really want the community to know that this center is for everyone.”

Cynthia Harris, director of social services for Evanston Police Department, said the center would be an excellent meeting place for kids with working parents.

“Any time kids have something that is organized, structured and supervised, they are less likely to find something to do on their own means,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t use the best judgement on their own, and the activities they choose are of a criminal nature.”

Lee said she hopes the center will strengthen support structures in the community.

“I want to provide a link between parents and schools,” Lee said. “Often parents won’t go talk to teachers proactively, only reactively. I want to create an environment that parents feel comfortable approaching.”

Skipworth and Lee will soon find out whether or not they will receive federal money. A negative decision would not impact their resolve, they said.

“Knowing what we can offer the community gives us a level of excitement,” Skipworth said. “We hope that the whole community can share in our vision and benefit from it.”