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Historic Building Gets Makeover Imagine just as you’re figuring out life, your support is pulled out from under you. According to experts in the field, foster care only supports children until age 18. Once the child reaches that age, regardless of whether they’re in high school or not, the support stops. Typically, that means they must leave where they are living. By July of next year, youth displaced in this manner should have a new place to turn to in Long Beach. Officials met last week for an official “wall-breaking” to kickoff the restoration of the historic Palace Hotel which is being converted into temporary housing for displaced youth. “All the financing is in place and the developer (LINC Housing Corporation) has given the go-ahead for construction — it should be starting as we speak,” said Patrick Ure, development officer for the Housing Services Bureau. The abandoned building will be given a significant amount of improvements, Ure said, including a remodeled ground floor, a new west-side entrance, new “architecturally appropriate” windows and new trees and landscaping along Ohio Street. “The exterior of the building will remain very similar to its current condition,” Ure said. “It is a city landmark, so we’re limited to the changes we can make. “Inside, it’ll be basically gutted and completely rebuilt.” The 12-month project also will revamp the ground level to include a retail space and a large community room. Officials said the hotel would have room for 13 occupants and a manager. Community support has been strong so far, said Fourth District City Councilman Patrick O’Donnell. “There are very few projects in the nation, let alone the region, addressing this issue,” he said. “The stories I hear are more compelling than any statistic or report. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and want to help.” There is plenty of need. “These people have aged out of the foster care system,” said Polly Williams, president of United Friends of the Children (UFC), the nonprofit set to run the future institution. Once the project is completed, UFC will institute the program, which is for 18-24 year olds and is to last about 18 months for each tenant. The program is designed to give these young people career and educational services and mental health support as they work toward independence. “(It’s really designed) to engage them with relationships with adults who care about their lives and their futures,” Williams said. UFC has been running similar programs since 2002 in southern California. Since then, Williams said, they’ve had hundreds of success stories, with approximately 80% of those who are served and then move on to become housing-independent and 74% employed. “They can make a very successful transition to living on their own,” she said. “We’re trying to stay in contact with them for many, many years afterwards.” For more information on UFC services, visit www.unitedfriends.org.
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