Tunua Thrash-Ntuk (second from right) meets with LA County staff helping Altadena residents apply for Wildfire Relief Grants.
One year after the LA wildfires, our communities are still navigating the long road to recovery, especially families and small businesses most impacted by the fires.
For many, recovery has not been linear. Housing remains unstable. Rebuilding is slow and complex. Small businesses are still trying to regain their footing. The reality is that disasters don’t end when the flames are extinguished. Recovery unfolds over months and years, and it requires sustained support, coordination, and care.
Our focus over the past year has been on meeting people where they are, providing immediate support while building pathways for long-term, equitable recovery. This work continues alongside our broader efforts to strengthen small businesses and local economies.
Here’s where that work stands today:
One of the most urgent needs following the wildfires was housing stability. Over the past year, The Center supported Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs in administering the LA County Household Relief Grant Program, helping distribute more than $31 million in grants to households impacted by the fires. These funds helped families stay housed while navigating insurance claims, rebuilding delays, and economic disruption. An additional $23 million will be deployed this quarter, with the application portal open through January 23. From what we continue to hear across the field, few efforts have operated at this scale while also delivering funds quickly and responsibly.
Wildfire Home Rebuilding Toolkit in Altadena
With support from U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, and in partnership with Office of Office and Enterprise Community Partners, we are advancing a Wildfire Home Rebuilding Toolkit in Altadena for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire. This work focuses on trauma-informed, bilingual guidance and hands-on support to help homeowners navigate rebuilding decisions and reduce the risk of displacement. Altadena faces unique pressures, including a high percentage of senior-owned homes and increasing private-equity interest in damaged properties. Our goal is to ensure residents have the information, support, and time they need to rebuild on their own terms and in the community they call home.
FORGE LA (Financing Options for Recovery, Growth, and Equity)
The Center is leading FORGE LA, a collaborative effort bringing together Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to research and develop better financing strategies for wildfire recovery across Los Angeles County. Supported by JPMorganChase and partnered with the Urban Institute, FORGE LA is focused on identifying financing gaps, designing more flexible tools, and creating a model that can be replicated when future disasters occur.
Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience
Equitable recovery also depends on who gets the rebuilding work. We are expanding our Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience, which supports diverse-owned construction businesses in accessing capital and scaling capacity. The 2025–2026 cohort will focus on rebuilding efforts in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, with support from Comerica Bank and the Invest in Our Future Foundation. By investing in local contractors, recovery dollars stay in the community, and rebuilding creates long-term economic opportunity.
Wildfire Home Rebuilding Fund
In partnership with Lendistry, we are exploring a pilot Wildfire Home Rebuilding Fund that is designed to pair flexible financing with home rebuilding counseling services to support households rebuilding after disaster. This effort is still in development, but the goal is clear: create a model that reflects the real challenges families face after wildfire and can be scaled in future recovery efforts.
January 6, 2026