A Look Back: One Year After the Eaton Fire. The Loss and Resilience of our Community
It’s hard to believe that one year ago, the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, leaving thousands suddenly displaced. Overnight, our Adult Center transformed into a central hub for donated essentials, hot meals and community. Support poured in from near and far, even as far as Ohio, showing how deeply people care for this community and the neighbors who call it home.
Geni is rebuilding her life after the Eaton Fire
Among those impacted was Geni. When flames approached that January evening, she grabbed only her laptop and the notes she needed for her PhD program, believing she’d return home in a few days. Instead, the place she had lived for more than a decade vanished overnight.
The days that followed were overwhelming. Asking for help was the hardest step, a lesson she never expected to face. As a former USHS employee, she knew resources existed but never imagined needing them herself. Encouraged by former colleagues, however, she applied to the Eaton Fire Housing Assistance Program.
“The hardest part of starting over was admitting I needed help, allowing myself to access resources,” she shared.
Through the housing program, she found a safety net while she rebuilt. Four months later, she was connected to stable housing. The program then provided her first month’s rent, a security deposit, and an allowance to help furnish her new home.
Today, Geni is rebuilding her life with intention, creating a home where she can study, rest, and begin again. The pain of what was lost still lingers, but her patience, strength, and determination show a path forward that many in our community now walk.
As we look back, we honor the devastation, and we celebrate a resilient community reclaiming its future.
The Eaton Fire Housing Assistance Program has supported more than 80 households over the past year, helping neighbors replace essentials, secure new housing, and cover expenses that would have pushed many into deeper instability.
Join the movement today and support the Eaton Fire Housing Assistance Program here: