A foster care community backed by actor Christian Bale has opened in Palmdale, California. The foster care village aims to keep siblings together.
Together California held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 11, 2026. Bale attended the event with project leaders, donors and local officials. Organizers said residents will begin moving into the community in October.
The project took years to develop. Bale began pursuing the idea around 2008 after learning more about children entering foster care. He later joined Dr. Eric Esrailian and Tim McCormick to develop the Together California model.
“It’s our job to turn their heartbreak and their pain into love and hope and a sense of future,” said Bale.
A Foster Village Designed for Sibling Groups
Together California sits on a 4.67-acre property in Palmdale and is a first of its kind in the state. The site includes 12 individual family homes. Each home can accommodate up to six siblings in foster care.
The village also has space for larger sibling groups. The goal is to give brothers and sisters a chance to remain in the same community instead of entering separate foster placements.
I absolutely LOVE this.
Christian Bale spent roughly 17 years fighting to make this happen.
This week, his foster-care village opened in Palmdale, California: 12 homes built specifically to help keep siblings together when they enter foster care. pic.twitter.com/Q4rNxtTwEe
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) September 12, 2026
Full-time, professionally trained foster parents will live in the homes. Together California will provide those caregivers with ongoing training and support. Staff will also coordinate services for children living in the community.
The development includes an 11,000-square-foot community center. It will house offices and also also offer programs and services for the wider Palmdale community.
Two studio apartments are part of the development as well. Together California says they will provide temporary housing for birth parents working toward reunification with their children. Transitional-age young people may also use the apartments while preparing for greater independence.
The site includes gardens, recreational areas and sports facilities. These spaces form part of the community’s shared facilities.
Why Keeping Siblings Together Matters
Sibling separation is a central concern behind the project. Together California says three out of four siblings are separated while in care.
The organization designed its village model around that issue. Rather than placing children in separate homes across different areas, the community allows sibling groups to live together under the care of trained foster parents.
Tim McCormick, Executive Director of Together California, shared, “A place where everyone is welcomed, a place that keeps families together, a place that creates community, a place where you can find hope in the most challenging of times.”
Christian Bale officially opens a $22 million foster care village in Palmdale, California after 17 years
Built by his organization ‘Together California,’ the village aims to keep siblings together while in foster care pic.twitter.com/EoZniB9Pjn
— Interesting AF (@interesting_aIl) September 14, 2026
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Together California also plans to provide support services on the property. The organization says an on-site case worker or therapist will have regular access to children and families.
The model combines individual family homes with shared facilities and professional support. Together California says the arrangement is intended to give children more stability while they remain in foster care.
The Palmdale location represents Together California’s first village in California. The organization says the community could serve hundreds of children each year.
Christian Bale’s Role in the Project
Bale’s involvement began long before construction. According to the Associated Press, he started exploring foster care issues around 2008. His interest eventually focused on children who lose connections with their brothers and sisters after entering care. Bale then connected with people who had experience developing foster care communities.
Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster in The Bride! – YouTube, Warner Bros.
Esrailian and McCormick became key partners in developing the California project. The three became the co-founders of Together California.
The project reached its groundbreaking on February 7, 2024. The project originally targeted completion in April 2025. That deadline passed, and the development continued into 2026. The village ultimately opened with the first residents expected to arrive in October.
Funding and Local Support
Together California received support from private donors and local government during development.
The City of Palmdale approved $1.2 million for pre-construction costs. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved another $500,000 for land acquisition, according to Together California.
The Austrian-American Council West also supported the project by raising nearly $9 million for the effort. Veronika Reinelt, president of the organization, shared, “Perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave is not that our names will be remembered, but that children’s lives are better because we cared.”
Christian Bale has officially opened a $22 million foster care village in Palmdale after 17 years of work.
‘Together California’ includes 12 homes designed to keep siblings together while in foster care, giving them the chance to grow up in a stable environment.
📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/gRJ4gOCYBv
— Kalshi Film (@Kalshi_Film) September 13, 2026
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger supported bringing the project to the Antelope Valley. She spoke of the Together California, “I guarantee you this project is going to change the trajectory of each and every child that steps foot on this campus.”
The project also received support from Los Angeles County child-welfare officials. Brandon Nichols, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, has highlighted the importance of maintaining sibling relationships in foster care.
What Happens Next
The September 11 ribbon-cutting marked the opening of the completed village. The next phase will involve moving foster families and children into the homes. Organizers said families will begin moving into the community in October. Together California will then operate the homes and provide its planned support services.
The organization intends for the Palmdale site to serve as a model for its approach to foster care. Its first California village will now begin operating with foster families and children.
For Bale and the other founders, the opening concludes years of planning, fundraising and construction. For Together California, it marks the start of direct services at the new Palmdale community.
What do you think of Together California’s approach to keeping siblings together? Sound off and let us know your thoughts about the project.
