O'Neil Apartments Generate Heartfelt Donations

DULUTH - It's the heart-wrenching feeling of seeing people shivering on the streets and sleeping under the interstate that's pushed a handful of community members to put their talents to the test and lend a helping hand -- all in the name of Steve O'Neil. From blue prints and dreams, to the real deal. The 44-unit Steve O'Neil Apartments are almost complete, and the community is using their talents to help the homeless. People struggling to put a roof over their heads are getting ready to move in to the brand new fully furnished Steve O'Neil Apartments. O'Neil was a longtime St. Louis County Commissioner and a strong advocate for the homeless. He lost his battle to cancer in July 2013, but his legacy lives on through the hard work of family, friends, and more recently people who were inspired by his kind heart. Twelve-million dollars and the dream of an advocate desperate to solve Duluth’s homeless problem brings us to today. "This is kind of a triage area,” explained Ric Klun with Center City Housing as he walked through the newly constructed buiding. “Help people get out of the crisis, and help people get their act together." In just a few short weeks, the Steve O'Neil Apartments will be packed with families who have been living on the streets for years. “Everything you need is going to be in when they walk in it's going to be very fun to watch,” said Mary Schmitz with CHUM. As everything falls into place after construction, people will start to move in to the apartments that will be furnished with everything they need. All of those items are being donated by organization, churches, and those who knew O’Neil the best. "We've got a long ways to go yet," smiled furniture maker Michael Koppy. After 450 hours and a few good sets of hands, inside Koppy's wood shop are the pieces to 69 handmade beds. Ragged pieces of donated lumber have been cleaned up and transformed into a beautiful piece of furniture -- giving people who are homeless a place to finally rest their heads."We kind of like the idea of the beds because It's such a main part of a home,” Koppy said. “It's sort of like the anchor of a home almost." Koppy along with the Duluth Woodworking Club and the Friends Meeting group have taken on the project. More than 40 people have been in the shop to help build the beds. They’ve been meeting twice a week since May to get the job done.  According to CHUM, It would have cost $43,000 to put full and twin beds in the building.  But thanks to the generous donation, the beds are free. The first time a new tenant climbs into a handmade bed, they'll be curling up with another gift made from the heart."We want them to know that they're our neighbors. They're part of the community we're embracing them,” said quilt maker Jo Johnson. “If we can embrace them by wrapping a blanket around them, that's a good deal." Dozens of book clubs, church groups, and women’s organizations throughout the Northland have been stitching colorful quilts from donated fabric.  They say it’s giving the scraps a purpose and creating a design that's unique like every individual who's about to spend a night with a roof over their head."You need your basics but you also need beauty in your life,” Johnson said. “You need warmth and beauty, and this is something we thought we could do." The group making the quilts is called The Ties that Bind.  They’re having a large quilting event Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ.Thanks the O'Neil's family, the man who kick-started it all will be remembered not only in the name of the building, but also by his favorite food."Steve started almost every morning of his adult life by eating toast,” smiled O’Neils wife Angie Miller. “I just thought it would be a great way to remember and honor his love of toast." When move-in day finally rolls around, the community will gather and truly appreciate every single person who made the Steve O'Neil Apartments a reality. “It'll be a wonderful day,” Miller said. “That will be a great day.” More than 40 area churches have donated money toward the apartment building, and Duluth Rotary 25 has given enough to by all the computers for the community room. The online registry for the apartments is open and CHUM is still looking for a couple big donations, including mattresses and bunk beds. Construction crews are hoping to have the apartments move-in ready before the end of the year. To donate through the online registry, click here.