A new foster housing community in Palmdale, California, has opened with residential units and support facilities designed to help keep siblings together while they are in foster care. Morley Builders served as a construction partner on the Together California’s Village for Brothers & Sisters project, working with Together California and architect AC Martin.
The 46,369-square-foot development includes six detached duplex townhomes containing 12 residential units. Each residence includes four bedrooms for foster children and a separate bedroom for a full-time foster parent.
The residential configuration is designed to provide foster siblings with a shared home environment while maintaining dedicated space for caregivers.
The development also includes two studio apartments for young adults transitioning out of foster care. The additional housing provides an option for residents moving toward independent living.
A 7,100-square-foot community center serves as the central support facility within the development. The building includes a multipurpose room, learning lab, fully equipped kitchen, administrative offices, case manager workspaces and a conference room.
The combination of housing and shared support space creates an integrated community environment for foster youth, caregivers and young adults.
The project also incorporates several sustainability-oriented features. Indigenous and drought-tolerant landscaping reduces landscape water requirements, while photovoltaic solar panels support on-site energy generation. Exterior window shading and building orientation were also incorporated into the design.
A 65-space surface parking lot provides parking for residents, staff and visitors.
The Village was developed to address the challenge of keeping brothers and sisters together during foster care placement. Actor and humanitarian Christian Bale co-founded Together California Children’s Village.
Morley Builders partnered with Together California and AC Martin on delivery of the project. The completed development combines residential construction, community facilities and outdoor improvements within a single foster housing campus.
The Palmdale project demonstrates how residential construction can be combined with dedicated community and support facilities to address specialized housing needs.
For developers, contractors and community-focused organizations, the project also illustrates the integration of family housing, transitional units, shared service spaces and sustainability features within one development.
Source: Morley Builders.
