Palmdale opens $22 million foster care village

A new $22 million foster care village, Together California, has opened in Palmdale to support youth in the foster system. The 46,369-square-foot campus, designed by the architecture firm A. C. Martin, held its grand opening on September 9 and is expected to welcome its first residents this October.

The facility is specifically designed to address the issue of siblings being separated within the foster care system. The campus features 12 homes, each capable of housing up to six children under the care of a full-time certified foster parent who receives a stipend. The layout includes a central courtyard, gardens, and a community playground to help children remain integrated within their local neighborhood.

The project was motivated by concerns regarding the high rate of sibling separation in the foster system, where up to three-quarters of children are often not placed with their brothers or sisters due to a lack of large-capacity housing.