Christian Bale Building Foster Village with Together California
When actor Christian Bale isn’t wow-ing movie-goers on the big screen, he’s been working on his passion project helping at-risk foster youth called Together California. This unique community will keep siblings together in the foster care system, while providing an environment where they can live and thrive.
Once complete, this unique community is set to provide a safe, supportive environment for kids who need it the most. This project will make a huge difference in the lives of those who have faced challenges in the foster care system.
The Inspiration Behind the Project
Having lived in Southern California for over 30 years, Bale has been deeply moved by the plight of children in foster care. After learning about the highly concentrated number of foster kids in Los Angeles County and how many siblings were separated, he felt compelled to make a difference. He said in an interview, “I didn’t know that LA County has more foster kids than anywhere else in the United States. Why wasn’t I helping those kids?”
This led to the idea of creating a community where foster children, especially siblings, could grow up together in a safe environment.
He says that his own children also inspired the project. “I couldn’t bear imagining if we weren’t around and they would have to be split up.”
The 16-Yearlong Journey to Break Ground
In February 2024, the first major milestone in bringing Together California and the community Christian Bale envisioned to life was achieved with the groundbreaking ceremony.
The project will include 12 homes and a community center in Palmdale, California. These homes are designed to help foster children, particularly siblings, remain together as they grow and heal in a supportive community.
The project also gained support from donors and local leaders, like LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the city of Palmdale, which was eager to help.
While the idea started with a simple vision of a safe haven for kids, Bale soon realized the complexity of the project. He reflected in The Associated Press, “I didn’t think it was going to take that long. I had a very naive idea about kind of getting a piece of land and then, bringing kids in and the brothers and sisters living together and sort of singing songs like the Von Trapp family in ‘The Sound of Music.’ …[But] it’s way more complex.” This long journey took over 16 years to bring to life.
Why Are There So Many Foster Children in California?
California has so many foster children due to its large population, high cost of living, and systemic challenges like poverty, neglect, and substance abuse, just like anywhere else in the U.S. Limited foster placements and delays in family reunification or adoption also contribute to the high number of kids in care.
With nearly 10 million residents in LA County alone—which is more than the entire population of many major cities such as New York City (8.4 million) and Chicago (2.7 million)—the sheer size of the area contributes to a higher number of children in need of care.
While there is a misconception that higher instances of illegal immigration plays a major role in the foster care system, in reality, only a small fraction of foster children are undocumented or come from undocumented families. Research shows that the majority of foster children are U.S. citizens or legal residents.
What’s Next
The 12 homes and community center are expected to be completed by April 2025.
For Bale, it’s an incredibly satisfying step forward. He shares, “I want to be involved every step of the way.” Although Bale hopes this will be the first of many such villages, he is grateful that the project is finally becoming a reality after 16 years of hard work and determination.
How the Village Will Be a Game-Changer for the Foster Care Community
We applaud Bale’s incredibly generous initiative! We support this initiative because it directly connects with Foster Love’s mission to help foster children by giving them the stability and resources they need to succeed. Projects like Christian Bale building foster village play an important role in creating a brighter future for kids in foster care, and together, we can help make that happen.
The Together California village will be a game-changer for California’s foster care community in many ways. First, it will give children a safe place to live—something many of them have never experienced. The village will also offer support systems like counseling, education, and job readiness programs, which are essential for helping kids break the cycle of instability.
For organizations like us at Foster Love, initiatives like this are crucial in creating the long-term change that foster children need, and we believe that supporting efforts like Bale’s will help create a future where kids in foster care are given the chance to thrive, not just survive.
Christian Bale’s vision for a better life for foster children in California is inspiring, and projects like Together California are proof that with the right support, foster kids can overcome their challenges and reach their full potential.
You can learn more about Together California on their website: https://togethercalifornia.org/our-village/
