CHUM Gets $82,000 Grant for O’Neil Apartments

Duluth Apartments Get Grant to Reach Full Health Potential

CHUM is pleased to announce a grant of $82,000 from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation to help the children at the Steve O’Neil Apartments reach their full health potential.

The overarching goal of the Steve O’Neil Apartments is to break the cycle of homelessness and foster strong families by creating a culturally diverse community that keeps the well-being of children and their families at the very center of community life.

The funds will be used for early childhood programs at the Steve O’Neil Apartments.

CHUM will work with many community partners, including Center City Housing, St. Louis County, HDC, ISD 709, and others to develop and implement the early childhood health equity program.

The CHUM grant is one of 24 awarded across the state through the Foundation’s Healthy Communities: Health Equity in Action initiative.

The projects all focus on one or more of the following social or economic factors that have a great influence on health: education, employment, income, family and social support or community safety.

A total of $1.5 million was awarded.

“We’re pleased to support the great work of CHUM — a community asset that is truly making a difference in helping people have better options for good health,” said Foundation Executive Director Carolyn Link. “CHUM demonstrates a commitment to broadening the way we look at health.”

Lee Stuart, Executive Director of CHUM explained the importance of the grant. “The first three years of life set the stage for how children develop, learn and interact with the world around them.

There are 47 children at the Steve O’Neil Apartments between 0 and 3, and five more on the way.

This support from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation will help us provide the best possible educational and health supports to them and their parents.”