Gyeonggi Province Opens 'Hope Stepping Stone Gyeonggi Center' for Youth Aging Out of Care in Hwaseong and Goyang

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province, Samsung Electronics, and the Community Chest of Korea have established residential independent living spaces for youth aging out of care, officially beginning operations on the 29th.

Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-kwon held an opening ceremony at the Hope Stepping Stone Gyeonggi Center in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong City, alongside Park Hak-gyu, President of Samsung Electronics DS Business Division Management Support, Jo Hung-sik, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea, and Jang Hyun-guk, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Council.

The 'Hope Stepping Stone Gyeonggi Center,' jointly developed by Gyeonggi Province, Samsung Electronics, the Community Chest of Korea, and the Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation, provides residential space for youth aging out of care who must become independent at an earlier age than their peers after leaving facilities at age 18 or older. The center is located in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong City and Ilsan Dong-gu, Goyang City.

The Hope Stepping Stone Gyeonggi Center consists of 'residential units' (14 units in Hwaseong, 4 in Goyang) where youth reside, 'experience units' (3 units in Hwaseong, 2 in Goyang) where residents can experience independent living before leaving the facility, and administrative and counseling spaces.

Any youth aged 18 or older but under 25 who are aging out of or scheduled to age out of welfare facilities may apply for residency, with a maximum stay of 2 years.

Currently, 8 of the 18 residential units are expected to be occupied, with the remaining 10 units to be recruited by early next year.

The province plans to provide customized one-on-one support programs in employment, daily living, and financial management tailored to residents' needs, independent living experience programs for middle and high school students in care facilities to gain early experience, and career and education programs.

Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byung-kwon stated, "With the opening of the Gyeonggi Center, our young people now have a comfortable space to rest and the conditions to receive ongoing support from professionals who help them consider their future have been expanded. We hope that youth leaving facilities will overcome their fears about independence and become dependable members of our society."