Courtesy photo
By Stephen Oduntan
Contributing Writer
ALTADENA — It has been 100 days since a fast-moving wildfire tore through the foothills of Altadena, displacing dozens of families. Many residents remain without permanent housing and are still waiting for government aid.
For some families affected by the fire, recovery has been slow and uneven, with much of the support coming from neighbors, not the government, residents said.
“We’ve been displaced since Jan. 8,” said Trenton Jordan, a personal trainer and father of three. “My garage burned down — I had about $20,000 worth of training equipment in there. We’ve been living out of Airbnbs and still haven’t heard back from FEMA.”
Jordan said he, his wife — an emergency room physician assistant — and their children have moved between hotels and short-term rentals in Alhambra and Glendale.
“The Airbnb we’re in now costs us about $9,000 a month,” he said. “My wife’s working two ER jobs. We’ve only got one car. We’re just trying to figure it out.”
Jordan said he is not alone. Lance Mitchell, head football coach at John Muir High School and president of the nonprofit No Finish Lines, said his family home was also destroyed in the fire.
“My grandparents bought that house in the ’60s,” Mitchell said. “Even though I moved out years ago, it was always home. That was my anchor. Now it’s gone.”
Mitchell said his organization, which typically focuses on youth development, shifted to fire relief after the disaster.
“We had families living out of suitcases. Still are,” he said. “The recovery has been driven by the people who were affected. It’s been the community helping itself.”
While grassroots efforts have supported some families, survivors said they are facing ongoing challenges. Rent costs have increased, insurance coverage has been limited and some who applied for assistance said they are still waiting to hear back.
“Our insurance didn’t cover displacement,” Mitchell said. “All the funds are going to rebuild the house, but not to house my father in the meantime.”
Faith-based organizations have also played a role in response efforts. Members of Holy Assembly Church of God in Christ said the church began offering emergency assistance within hours of the fire. Since then, the church has continued to provide meals, donations and emotional support.
“Even though the smoke has cleared, the ashes remain,” said Pia Michelle Jones, a church attendee. “These are multigenerational homes. How do you pass down love and wealth when the house is gone?”
The church has also partnered with wellness practitioners to offer trauma care. An event scheduled for April 16 will provide free yoga and healing resources for survivors.
Jordan said the fire’s emotional toll has hit his children hardest.
“My kids lost everything — beds, toys, their sense of home,” he said. “They’ve been sleeping in different beds every few weeks. It’s taken a toll.”
Despite the hardships, residents said the community remains resilient. Events held in recent weeks have offered moments of connection and encouragement.
“We wanted to do something where people could come out and see each other in a positive light,” said Deon Shorter, a co-organizer of a recent gathering and member of No Finish Lines. “There’s power in just showing up for one another.”
Some families have started to rebuild, while others said they are concerned about the long-term future of their neighborhood. Jones said some longtime residents are under pressure to sell their properties.
“Don’t amplify stories about people cashing out,” she said. “A lot of folks are selling out of desperation. The goal should be to keep them on their land.”
Mitchell expressed concern about equity in recovery efforts.
“Resources aren’t always getting to the Black and Latino families who need them most,” he said. “And the people distributing the help — many of them aren’t from here. They don’t always know who’s been impacted.”
Some residents said they have yet to receive the aid they were promised, despite outreach from local organizations.
This week, Los Angeles County officials approved steps aimed at accelerating the recovery. On April 8, the Board of Supervisors passed a motion to establish a unified permitting authority within the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center. The new unit is intended to speed up the rebuilding process for fire survivors.
“No rebuild permits have been issued in Altadena, and that’s unacceptable,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “Today’s motion will cut through the red tape to get my Altadena constituents back on track to rebuilding faster. We don’t have time to waste.”
The permitting authority will include senior liaisons from departments such as Public Works and Public Health and will be tasked with resolving conflicts in real time. Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said the measure is intended to ensure that recovery is “equitable and accessible for every resident.”
In an email to The Wave, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority said the agency supported 224 unhoused individuals who took refuge in Red Cross shelters during the evacuation. However, the spokesperson said the authority was not involved in assisting residents who had stable housing prior to the wildfires, noting that FEMA and the Red Cross were responsible for those cases.
“When you pray, think about Altadena,” Jones said. “Because we’re still here. Still waiting. Still rebuilding.”
Stephen Oduntan is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers.
