CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – It was bitter cold in the days before Christmas. One night the thermometer dropped to -12, and the wind chill was -40.
What should we do for the homeless on a night like that?
Letting them struggle outdoors can’t possibly be the right answer.
In extreme weather, our warming center is full. And we have space for only 25 people. I would like to think that the old warming center on the west side could also be used to handle the overflow. I don’t know if it is. The Salvation Army shelter is also at capacity. Certainly on the coldest of nights, capacity limits should be stretched.
And yet, there are two buildings that could be used – but stayed locked and empty on the coldest night of the year. Marathon Hall is an empty and unused dormitory on the UW-Stevens Point Wausau campus. A block away is East Gate Hall, which has a large open floor plan and another large annex in the back.
The Wausau Pilot & Review published an editorial last month on how these spaces could be easily used to temporarily house the homeless on desperately cold nights. They’re right. I agree completely. It should be as easy as having a supply of cots and blankets, a small number of volunteers willing to help, and local leaders willing to unlock the doors and turn on the heat and electricity. At -40, human decency demands it.
And there is a special call for people of faith. Nowhere in the bible did Jesus throw up his hands and say “I’ve done enough.” When more effort is required, we need to be people of action.
Chris Conley
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