One Year After the L.A. Fires, the Work Continues
These organizations are making a difference.
Thomas J. Story
One year after the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated entire neighborhoods across Los Angeles County, the recovery is still unfolding. For thousands of families, rebuilding has proven to be a long, complex process—one shaped by insurance gaps, rising construction costs, housing shortages, and the lasting mental and emotional toll of displacement.
While the first days and weeks after the fires were marked by urgent emergency response, the year since has underscored a harder truth: Wildfire recovery is measured in years, not months. And sustained support remains essential.
Below are several organizations playing a critical, long-term role in helping communities recover—and build resilience for what lies ahead.
California Community Foundation: Coordinating Long-Term Recovery at Scale
When fires swept through Altadena, Pasadena, the Palisades, and Malibu, nearly 13,000 households lost their homes almost overnight. The California Community Foundation (CCF) moved quickly—distributing $30 million to local nonprofits within the first 30 days to help families meet immediate needs such as food, shelter, and cash assistance.
But CCF’s approach extended well beyond emergency relief. Drawing on decades of disaster-response experience, the foundation designed a phased recovery strategy that balances rapid response with long-term planning—recognizing that rebuilding lives and communities requires durable civic infrastructure.
Over the past year, more than $100 million has been raised from more than 48,000 donors. Grants have been awarded to over 260 nonprofit organizations across Los Angeles County, and funding has been deployed across housing, health and social services, economic recovery, community assistance, and direct relief.
To ensure survivors have a voice in shaping policy and accessing resources, CCF also helped launch the Department of Angels, a survivor-led initiative that has organized delegations to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to advocate for federal disaster relief, insurance protections, and long-term safety-net reforms.
Surveys conducted with survivors and grantee partners continue to show persistent challenges: financial strain, insurance shortfalls, and escalating mental-health needs. In response, CCF allocated an additional $6 million in direct cash assistance late last year and continues to invest heavily in housing stability, mental health services, and community resilience.
As CCF President and CEO Miguel A. Santana notes, the first year marked only “the first leg of a longer journey.” Donations can be made here.
California Fire Foundation: Supporting Families, Firefighters, and Communities
The California Fire Foundation (CFF) has also played a vital role in wildfire recovery—supporting both survivors and the first responders who serve fire-prone communities.
One year after the fires, CFF has distributed more than $9 million across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, benefiting individuals, families, fire departments, nonprofit organizations, and community partners.
Through its multi-year Wildfire Disaster Relief & Recovery Grant program, CFF has funded 100 community recovery projects, supported 45 fire departments and firefighter organizations, and committed to investing $5 million annually for five years in long-term recovery across the region.
Grant funding has supported a wide range of efforts, including housing repair and rebuilding, food security, legal services for survivors, mental-health support, vegetation mitigation, defensible space projects, PPE replacement for fire stations, and preparedness planning.
In the immediate aftermath of the fires, CFF also distributed 7,263 emergency SAVE cards, delivering more than $1.8 million in direct aid to nearly 23,000 families, including more than 4,800 children—along with food-delivery vouchers that helped families meet basic needs when infrastructure was disrupted.
CFF is currently accepting applications for its Wildfire Disaster Relief & Recovery Grants, supporting nonprofits, fire departments, and community organizations engaged in relief, recovery, and preparedness work. You can also give here.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles: Rebuilding Homes and Stability
For families displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires, the path back home has been slowed by soaring construction costs, insurance gaps, and a shortage of affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles has focused its recovery work on addressing those barriers directly—repairing and rebuilding homes while keeping long-term affordability at the center of the effort.
Through its ReBUILD LA initiatives and partnerships with local agencies and funders, Habitat LA is helping fire-impacted homeowners return safely to their neighborhoods, while also strengthening housing resilience against future disasters. The organization’s work extends beyond construction, supporting stability for families whose recovery timelines stretch years beyond the initial emergency phase.
Donations can be made here.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Meeting Everyday Needs During Long Recovery
Food insecurity often deepens long after headlines fade. As families navigate prolonged displacement, job disruption, and rising living costs, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has remained a critical source of support.
Over the past year, the Food Bank has continued to supply groceries and meals to households affected by wildfire displacement—working through a network of local nonprofits, pantries, and community organizations across Los Angeles County. By addressing basic needs consistently over time, the organization helps families focus limited resources on housing, rebuilding, and recovery.
Donations can be made here.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding, Rethinking, and Resilience
As recovery continues, rebuilding is not only about replacing what was lost—but also about reimagining what comes next.
Projects like the Altadena Prefab Showcase, led by cityLAB-UCLA, are exploring faster, more affordable, and more resilient housing models that could help accelerate rebuilding while addressing long-standing housing challenges.
One year on, the generosity shown in the aftermath of the fires remains inspiring. But the need for sustained engagement—philanthropic, civic, and governmental—has not diminished. Recovery is ongoing, and the path forward will require continued investment, advocacy, and collective effort.
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