Christian Bale opens Palmdale foster village to keep siblings together
Christian Bale has opened a foster-care village in Palmdale, California, built to keep brothers and sisters together in care.
The Together California community opened on Friday, according to Variety. Its stated aim is to stop siblings entering the foster-care system from being separated. Residents were expected to start moving in during the month after the ribbon-cutting.
The site covers 11,000 square feet and holds 12 furnished homes. That includes two studio apartments for young people transitioning out of foster care.
The need is stark in Los Angeles County. More than 30,000 children are in the foster-care system there, according to Variety. Los Angeles has the highest population of children in foster care in the United States.
Bale partnered with Tim McCormick in 2022 to create Together California. McCormick now serves as its executive director. The Austrian American Council West helped raise nearly $9 million for the project.
The first village was developed with support from the City of Palmdale, according to Together California. It pairs the homes with a community centre. The project sits near 30th Street East and McAdam Park, as reported by ABC7.
Each child is cared for by a full-time, professionally trained foster parent and lives in a single-family home, according to Together California. Birth parents are offered support and counselling aimed at reuniting families where possible. The group, which was designed to provide safe, nurturing environments, held its groundbreaking ceremony on 7 February 2024.
What makes this stand out for families is simple. Brothers and sisters can stay under the same roof. For children entering care, that continuity matters.
