Ways to Support Families Displaced by LA Fires
We are heartbroken by the devastating fires in Los Angeles County, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted. Our hearts especially go out to the Black residents of Altadena — mothers, children, and families who have been displaced, lost their homes, livelihoods, or loved ones during this unimaginable crisis.
Altadena, one of L.A.’s historic Black communities, has been particularly affected. In addition to the loss of homes, the fires have destroyed cherished Black-owned churches, restaurants, and cultural institutions. Altadena has one of the largest Black homeownership rates per capita in California and is home to a proud and vibrant African-American community.
The impact on Black residents has been devastating, as many families have lost everything. Many residents, including elders on fixed incomes, are now displaced with nowhere to go other than temporary shelters. As all of L.A. County has been impacted, the underserved Pasadena/Altadena community needs urgent support.
Resources
- Disaster CalFresh Food Assistance
- Shelters, Animal Boarding, and Free Meals
- Fire Tracker, DWP Recommends, Closures, and Missing Person
- Free and discounted resources
- For comprehensive details on emergency resources, visit the Governor’s Wildfire Support Page here.
Childcare and Baby Supplies
- YMCA Childcare: Free for displaced families. Find locations here.
- Babyletto: Free cribs. Email [email protected].
- Bobbie Formula: Free organic baby formula. Apply here.
- Temporary Housing Assistance: Airbnb is offering free stays for displaced families. More info here.
Mental Health Resources
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Access Center 24/7 Helpline: (800) 854-7771
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Small Business Resources
- LA City Resources
- LAEDC: Operations Planning After Natural Disasters
- Legal Assistance & Natural Disasters
- Regional Business Technical Assistance
- SBA Disaster Relief Loans
Emergency Alerts
Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts:
- NotifyLA (City of LA Emergency Alerts)
- Alert LA County Emergency Alerts
- Additional LA County Municipal Alerts
Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians
LA County Resources
- Real-time evacuation maps, shelter information, and more can be found on the LA County Emergency Incident Response Website.
Federal Resources
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides fire management assistance. Visit FEMA Wildfire Assistance or call 1-800-621-FEMA for more details.
Ways to Support
- Displaced Black Families GoFundMe Directory – a comprehensive list of Black families and their GoFundMe accounts to help rebuild.
- LA Fires: The Impacted Black Community Urgently Needs Help: An official and trusted GoFundMe campaign where 100% of the funds raised will be used to assist the victims impacted in the Pasadena/Altadena Community. This campaign was started in partnership with the two largest African American law firms in California, The Cochran Firm and Ivie McNeil Wyatt Purcell and Diggs, The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons State of California Inc., and Community Advocate Jasmyne Cannick.
- LA Wildfires: Impacts on Altadena’s Black Community – Altadena, a historically Black, middle-class and culturally vibrant community, has been devastated by the January 2025 Eaton fire. This Data Brief, published by UCLA’s Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, provides new information on the historical trajectory of Altadena’s Black community and the impacts from the wildfires, using multiple data sources.
- Donate to California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment: The California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute is partnering with LA Focus to raise funds to support Black women and families impacted by the fires. Click the link above to donate via PayPal.
- List of Places Accepting Donations