Incheon City announced on the 7th that it will actively promote the 'In(pum) Independence Support One-Stop Service,' which provides integrated support for housing, employment, and daily life to help young adults who have turned 18 and aged out of child welfare facilities achieve stable independence.
The 'In(pum) Project' means 'the embrace of Incheon,' reflecting the intention for Incheon City and its citizens to join forces to support young adults preparing for independence as if they were a parent's embrace. The In(pum) Project offers comprehensive integrated services covering all aspects of life through 21 programs across six areas: independent living, housing stability, psychological and emotional support, employment and career guidance, pre-support for those aging out of care, and the establishment of an independence foundation.
For housing support, the city signed an agreement last September with Samsung Electronics and others to establish the 'Samsung Hope Stepping Stone Incheon Center.' After acquiring the building, the center is scheduled to begin operations in the first half of next year. The center will be equipped with 16 independent living rooms and 4 independent experience rooms.
At the 'Samsung Hope Stepping Stone Incheon Center Business Agreement Ceremony' held at Incheon City Hall last September, Lee Yong-kwon, Chairman of the Catholic Children and Youth Foundation, Park Seung-hee, President of Samsung Electronics, Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon, and Kim Byung-joon, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea (from left), are taking a commemorative photo. 2024.9.2 [Photo by Incheon City]
The city also plans to operate 15 officetel units exclusively for young adults preparing for independence in the Yeongjong and Nonhyeon areas, in collaboration with the Incheon Regional Headquarters of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).
In the employment support sector, the city has signed an agreement with the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office to provide customized employment programs in community spaces within housing facilities, offering systematic support from the preparation stage through post-employment monitoring.
The city plans to activate mentoring programs for young adults preparing for independence, expanding professional consultations in areas such as law, real estate, credit, and healthcare, as well as emotional exchanges between mentors and mentees.
The city increased the independence allowance paid to young adults preparing for independence by 100,000 KRW to 500,000 KRW per month starting this year. The allowance can be received for five years from the time protection ends, with the necessary budget shared 80% by national funds and 20% by city funds.
Youth who have aged out of child welfare facilities and foster families can also receive a one-time independence settlement fund of 10 million KRW, supported by city, county, and district budgets. Last year, 521 people in Incheon received the independence allowance, and 59 received the independence settlement fund.
An official from Incheon City stated, "We have established a public-private cooperative system through the In(pum) independence support project," adding, "We will continue to implement various policies to help young adults preparing for independence settle stably."
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