Wildfire Relief Fund

Maria is a mother of two children, Carlos (8) and Sofia (5). She and her husband, Javier, have lived in their home for over a decade. Javier works as a mechanic at a local auto shop, and Maria has a part-time job as a receptionist at the Altadena Dental office. Maria and Javier both working hard to make ends meet for their children. As her Pastor, I have known Maria for years and have supported her in the past with local assistance programs. Maria’s home was destroyed in the fire, and her family have been evacuated for nearly two weeks. They have been staying at a combination of hotels and with relatives. Maria applied for FEMA aid but has not received any financial aid yet. She does have insurance and their claim is still pending. Their home remains uninhabitable with no clear timeline for rebuilding. Maria has not received help from The Change Reaction in the past, but has also gotten some fire relief aid. A third-party housing director from their insurance company helped Maria and her family find a small apartment in a neighboring city. Maria and Javier are struggling to find the funds to pay the first month’s rent ($2,200) and security deposit ($2,000). I am advocating for Maria and her family to receive a grant in the amount $4,200. This grant will provide Maria and her family a stable place for them to begin rebuilding their lives.

Daniel is a single father of three children—Samantha (15), Luca (11), and Daniela (7)—and also cares for his elderly mother, Rebecca, a retired elementary teacher aide. He works as a truck driver and has been connected with our non-profit for nearly three years after initially reaching out for support. His home was severely damaged in the fire; while not completely destroyed, heavy smoke infiltration and toxic particles ruined much of their clothing and furniture, making it unsafe to live in. The family has been displaced for weeks, staying in a costly Airbnb while awaiting repairs. Daniel applied for FEMA aid but has only received $2,500, along with basic toiletries and essential items. His insurance claim remains in progress, but the process has been slow, requiring him to work with multiple adjusters. The family previously received fire relief support from The Change Reaction, which helped cover food and groceries. Now, they urgently need internal toxic removal services before they can return home. The estimated cost for these services is $3,500. Daniel and Rebecca can contribute $1,000, but they need assistance covering the remaining $2,500. I strongly advocate for Daniel and his family to receive a $2,500 grant to complete the necessary cleaning. Once these services are secured, they can finally return home and begin rebuilding their lives.

Miguel, a gardener, lives with his wife, Rosa, their two children, Andres (12) and Isabella (9), and his retired father, Ernesto. Rosa provides childcare for a few families in their neighborhood. I’ve known Miguel for four and a half years through our organization, where he first sought assistance during a difficult financial period. The Eaton Fire devastated his livelihood, as many of his clients lost their homes and no longer need his services at the moment. With a sharp drop in income, Miguel is struggling to cover rent, utilities, and essentials for his family. Although their home was spared, financial strain has left the family in crisis. Miguel was denied FEMA assistance since their house wasn’t damaged, and limited local aid hasn’t been enough. The Change Reaction previously helped them during a hardship, and they now urgently need support again. A grant for one month of rent would provide critical relief, allowing Miguel time to secure new clients and regain financial stability.

Miguel plans to rebuild his gardening business by reaching out to unaffected neighborhoods, offering discounted services to attract new clients, and networking with local landscaping companies for potential job opportunities. In the meantime, he is taking on temporary work to cover immediate expenses while applying for additional financial assistance programs.

Lashawna is working with their insurance adjuster and FEMA representatives to expedite claims and hopefully get a settlement. In the meantime, she is securing stable housing, purchasing essential furniture through aid programs, and exploring new income sources.

Shirley will stay in temporary housing while securing smoke remediation. She is following up on insurance and FEMA claims, budgeting carefully, and seeking aid for essentials. With community support, she plans to return home within 60 days and regain stability within six months.