Christian Bale opens Together California foster-care village in Palmdale, providing 12 homes for sibling groups

Actor Christian Bale inaugurated the 12-home Together California foster-care village in Palmdale, California, a community designed to keep foster siblings together under full-time professional caregivers.

On September 11, 2026, actor Christian Bale attended the ribbon-cutting of Together California’s new foster-care village in Palmdale, a project he helped launch after 18 years of planning and $22 million in fundraising. The village’s core mission is to keep siblings in the state’s foster-care system together, a goal Bale described as turning “heartbreak and pain into love and hope.” ABC7 Los Angeles

The 4.7-acre campus, adjacent to William J. McAdam Park, contains 12 three-bedroom townhomes, each built to house six children, an 11,000-square-foot community center, two studio apartments for birth parents or transitional-age youth, and landscaped garden, recreational and sports areas. Award-winning firm A.C. Martin designed the village to foster a sense of neighborhood while shielding residents from the high desert winds. City of Palmdale

Funding for the project blends public and private sources: Los Angeles County approved a $3 million loan and Supervisor Kathryn Barger added $1.06 million in discretionary funds; the city contributed $6 million for park upgrades; Together California has invested $23.8 million, and the Austrian American Council West raised nearly $9 million in donations. The village is slated to welcome its first foster families in October. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger

The Palmdale site was acquired in 2022 and spans 4.67 acres next to a city park. A.C. Martin’s design clusters the 12 townhomes around a central community facility, creating a courtyard-style layout that encourages interaction while providing shade and wind protection. Shared spaces include garden beds, a playground with bright yellow sunshades, and a running track that links the homes to the community center. City of Palmdale

Each townhome contains three bedrooms and is fully furnished, allowing a single foster family to care for up to six children, often keeping large sibling groups together. A full-time, professionally trained foster parent lives on-site to provide continuous support. Two additional studio apartments serve birth parents working toward reunification and transitional-age youth preparing for independence. The 11,000-square-foot community center houses administrative offices and offers enrichment programs for children and families. Together California

The village’s financial foundation blends county, city and private contributions. Los Angeles County Supervisors approved a $3 million loan through the Development Authority and Supervisor Barger earmarked $1.06 million in discretionary funding. The City of Palmdale pledged $6 million for park improvements, while Together California has already invested $23.8 million in the project. Austrian American Council West’s fundraising added nearly $9 million, underscoring broad philanthropic support. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger

Keeping siblings together addresses a critical gap: roughly 30 % of sibling groups in the Antelope Valley consist of four or more children, and 16 % involve five or more siblings, making placement difficult. By housing entire sibling groups under one roof, the village aims to reduce trauma and improve long-term outcomes. Los Angeles County has the nation’s highest foster-care population, so the model could serve as a blueprint for statewide reform. Together California

Palmdale’s new village tackles two pressing LA-area challenges: the chronic shortage of foster-care placements that keep siblings together, and the need for community-based, high-quality housing for vulnerable youth. By marrying celebrity advocacy with local government and nonprofit resources, the project offers a replicable model that could reshape how Los Angeles County supports its 30,000 foster children.