Olive Crest Breaks Ground on New Housing for High-Risk Teens and Young Adults in Los Angeles County

$7 Million Investment Will Provide Stable Housing and Life Skills for Youth Aging Out of the Child Welfare System

Bellflower, Calif. (November 5, 2025)

Olive Crest, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families in crisis, broke ground on a new residential facility in Bellflower that will provide safe, stable housing and life-skills training for high-risk teens and young adults in Los Angeles County.

The $7 million, philanthropy-funded project marks a significant step in addressing the region’s critical homelessness and housing insecurity crisis among youth transitioning out of the child welfare system or experiencing homelessness. The first phase of the development will serve young adults ages 16 to 25 and include two-bedroom apartment homes designed to offer stability and a pathway to independence.

“This project represents hope and opportunity for young people who have faced unimaginable challenges,” said Donald Verleur, CEO of Olive Crest. “By providing not just a roof over their heads, but also essential life skills, counseling, and support, we are empowering these young adults to build self-sufficient, productive lives.”

The new residential facility is located adjacent to Olive Crest’s Children and Family Resource Center (CFRC), which opened in January 2024. The CFRC includes counseling rooms, family visitation areas, a food and clothing closet, kitchen, laundry facilities, and a drop-in center that connects youth and families in crisis to critical services.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together by Olive Crest leadership, local dignitaries, generous donors, and community partners.

“This investment is about more than housing