Hillcrest House in Wausau, WI. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Jesus repeatedly tells us that Christians have an obligation to help widows and orphans.
What about homeless teenagers, some as young as 12 years old?
A 12-year-old who has no relationship with their parents is indeed an orphan. Jesus commands us: take care of them.
And here, in Central Wisconsin, we’ve failed.
We learned earlier this week that Hillcrest House is closing. It was a group home on Wausau’s west side that could take in eight teenagers at a time who would otherwise be homeless. It was opened in 2021 by the group Keep Area Teens Safe. Two years later it is closing. They were unable to find consistent funding sources to keep it running.
Now you’d think that when such a facility opens, there’d be a discussion about who is going to pay for it. Whatever the original plan was, it didn’t come through. And at least they tried to do something. We, the collective community, didn’t do enough. I didn’t do anything, and the home itself is within walking distance of my house. I drive past it every day.
And I’m an influential person. I sit behind a microphone and try to persuade people on the issues of the day. I should have been telling you about the need at Hillcrest House. And while I’m not a wealthy man, I have resources. I could have… I should have… given something.
What’s the alternative for these young people? Will they live on the street? Are their only means of existence to turn to crime, or drug dealing or sex trafficking? They got the message loud and clear: They are disposable. They’re throwaways. The community didn’t support the one place for homeless teenagers will go. The place of last resort is closing in one week.
Forgive us, Jesus. Forgive me. You told us what we were supposed to do for these teenagers, and we didn’t. Jesus also told us “what you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
Chris Conley
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