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Hillcrest House to close Sepetember 1st

By Chris Conley Aug 21, 2023 | 4:01 PM

Hillcrest House in Wausau, WI. Image courtesy: WAOW TV

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Hillcrest House – a youth shelter for homeless teens is closing its doors.

President of KATS, Dr. Mary Jo Freeman the founder and president of the board for Keep Area Teens Safe confirmed the news. The closing date is September 1.

Hillcrest House has been open since 2021 and served as a transitional home for up to eight teens at a time. KATS is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) youth shelter care facility serving runaway and homeless youth as a bridge to services for kids in unstable situations in Marathon County. KATS helped kids with housing, meals, case management including connection to mentorship and academic support, and other community services for youth in central Wisconsin with a focus on 12-17 year-old kids.

In a letter from Freeman, it says “despite our best efforts, we have been unable to receive any sustainable monthly financial support which is required to operate this type of program.”  The letter also said, “the barriers for receiving support were just too difficult to overcome. Unfortunately, the problems we were trying to solve will undoubtedly only get worse.”

Freeman said the director, Kathy Buckli and the staff are devastated having to close.

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