One year after wildfires devastated communities across Los Angeles County, a new Department of Angels’ survey of Eaton and Palisades fire survivors reveals the myriad challenges they face in recovering. The survey found that more than 70% of survivors are still not home, nearly half have depleted their savings and over 40 percent have taken on debt just to survive.
As survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires continue to struggle with basic needs — from buying groceries to keeping up with monthly bills — the California Community Foundation (CCF) announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations to deliver direct assistance for those most in need.
Ten months after the Eaton fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, a showcase of modular and prefabricated housing designs is offering a glimpse of what’s possible for survivors who seek to return to their properties more quickly and affordably than traditional rebuilds.
Seven months after evacuating from the Palisades fire, Lena Latiff returned to her beloved Casa Gateway affordable housing community overlooking Sunset Boulevard. “I keep thanking God I'm home,” said Latiff, 70. “I didn't think it was going to happen for more than a year. But then they came in and did the work for us, which is a big blessing.” Latiff was referring to crews who cleaned up dozens of units that sustained smoke and ash damage. The project was made possible by several nonprofit organizations supported by grants from the California Community Foundation (CCF).