Gwangmyeong City to Support Housing and Living Environment Improvements for Youth Preparing for Independence

Implementation of "Hope TokTok Dream House" Providing Tailored Support for About 10 Individuals
Utilizing the Hometown Love Fund... Wallpaper and Flooring Replacement, Bed and Desk Upgrades, and More

Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province will use its Hometown Love Fund to support improvements in housing and living conditions for young people preparing for independence within the city.

On the 29th, Gwangmyeong City announced the implementation of the "Hope TokTok Dream House" project, which aims to help young people preparing for independence, such as those leaving protective facilities, settle stably into society.

Youth preparing for independence refers to those who, after receiving protection in child care facilities, foster homes, or group homes, reach the age of 18 and are no longer under protection. According to the city, these young people must take their first steps into society alone without family support, and often face unstable housing and living conditions, making initial independence particularly challenging.

This project is intended to help these young people settle into society stably by supporting improvements in their housing and living environments. The city plans to use 9 million won from the Hometown Love Fund to support approximately 10 young people.

After conducting on-site inspections and finalizing the support details, the city plans to provide customized assistance by November, such as renovating housing environments (including wallpaper and flooring replacement, bathroom repairs) or replacing household items (such as rice cookers, microwaves, beds, air conditioners, and desks).

Park Seungwon, Mayor of Gwangmyeong, stated, "We will continue to provide practical and ongoing support so that young people preparing for independence can feel there is always a reliable pillar of support available to them," and added, "We will also responsibly use the Hometown Love Fund to offer warm hope to those in need within the community."

Previously, Gwangmyeong City has been implementing welfare policies for socially vulnerable groups using the Hometown Love Fund collected through the Hometown Love Donation Program. These policies include the "Golden Lunchbox Project" supporting single-person households of young and middle-aged adults, the "Power up Home, Not So Good Home" project supporting youth and young adults caring for family members, and others.

The Golden Lunchbox Project provides 100,000 won in Gwangmyeong Love Gift Certificates to 200 single-person households of young and middle-aged adults at risk of isolation or solitary death. So far, 100 households have been supported, and an additional 100 households will be supported starting next month.

The "Power up Home, Not So Good Home" project supports youth and young adults caring for family members by improving housing and living environments so they can focus on their studies and independence in a comfortable home and grow into healthy members of society. A total of 7 households have been supported through this project.