Resources for Californians Impacted by Los Angeles Fires
Homeowners throughout California are offering, renting and selling their residences to assist families and individuals displaced by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. Thousands of families are currently in urgent need of temporary housing.
Officials project that roughly 10,000 structures have been ravaged by the fires. As a result, many displaced persons will be in search of new accommodations, a challenging endeavor in Los Angeles given the existing scarcity of available properties in the county. The victims affected by the fires in Los Angeles are unlikely to return to their communities in the foreseeable future, as it typically requires at least two years to rebuild.
Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County, a measure that implements protections against price gouging.
Landlords are generally restricted from elevating rental prices by more than 10% above their previous rates or advertised amounts prior to the state of emergency that commenced on January 7, according to the California Attorney General’s office.
These safeguards against price gouging extend beyond housing to encompass essential items such as food, fuel, and medical supplies. For properties that were not rented or advertised prior to the state of emergency, additional protections are enacted; specifically, landlords are limited to charging no more than 160% of the fair market value as determined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Attorney General Rob Bonta has encouraged the public to report instances of price gouging through an online form available from his office.
The Department of Real Estate has stated that it will diligently investigate complaints of unlawful price gouging related to rental housing by licensees and will take appropriate disciplinary action if the evidence warrants.
Additionally, violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution.
Temporary Housing Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by the well-known short-term rental company, is partnering with 211 LA to provide assistance for individuals impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles. This collaboration is offering free, temporary lodging for individuals who have either lost their homes or had to evacuate from areas including Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar. Individuals in need of support can apply for temporary housing, while those interested in assisting by hosting displaced persons can find additional information through the provided link.
The percentage of U.S. adults displaced in the past year by natural disasters has risen slightly, jumping from 1.2% of adults in June 2023 to 1.4% of adults in June 2024
Numerous properties currently on the market in Los Angeles may shift to the rental market due to displacement, which could result in higher prices in areas of high demand. Furthermore, the aftermath of the fires has motivated some sellers, previously reluctant to list their properties this year, to take action, particularly considering that over 2,000 new buyers and renters have been displaced and may require accommodations.
The California Apartment Association suggests that rental property owners can aid their communities by contributing to organizations that offer shelter, food, and essential supplies, or by participating in local relief initiatives. Although the CAA is unable to directly arrange housing placements, it recommends that rental property owners refresh their listings on platforms like Apartments.com or Zillow to help displaced individuals secure temporary accommodations.
If you are a property owner or an absentee owner and contemplating the leasing or sale of your property, please feel free to reach out so we can offer accommodations to those in need. If you're considering relocating from Los Angeles to Northern California, I will do my best to find accommodations.
How to Help Emergency Responders and Residents
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is the official nonprofit of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The organization supports over 3,000 local firefighters and paramedics by providing equipment and tools to help them fight wildfires effectively.
LA County Emergency Management
President Biden made a “major disaster declaration,” which allows for immediate cash assistance for parties affected for food, prescriptions and other necessary costs like baby formula. People can call (800) 621-3362.
Watch Duty app - a nonprofit that alerts the public of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time.
The Salvation Army is working with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide food, personal necessities and shelter to victims and first responders, including firefighters, police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
The American Red Cross is providing shelter, food, relief supplies and medical care.
The California Fire Foundation is taking donations to provide aid and resources for both fire crews and residents.
Water, fruit, and sandwiches are being provided by World Central Kitchen. Ready to provide comforting meals is how some of its partner chefs describe themselves.
GoFundMe has verified and consolidated dozens of fundraisers that victims have started in recent days.
Planet Fitness is providing access to showers and its facilities at no cost to firefighters and residents displaced by fires. A gym membership is not required to access the facilities participating.
The virtual medical service Teledoc is providing free 24/7 virtual medical care from licensed healthcare professionals for any non-emergency illness by calling Teladoc Health directly at 855-225-5032.
The Los Angeles-based community organization is serving as an evacuation center for residents forced to leave their homes due to the fires. The Dream Center is accepting credit- and debit-card donations.
Friends in Deed is accepting online donations to support its efforts to help homeless and at-risk neighbors.
The California Community Foundation is accepting donations toward its Wildfire Recovery Fund to aid those affected by the fires.
Animal Wellness Foundation is using its old vet hospital to shelter animals donated by owners who evacuated but couldn’t take their pets with them. They’re asking for donations so they can house and feed them.
Pasadena Humane is asking people to give money so staff can treat animals with medication, fluids and oxygen.
Be careful where you donate during and after a disaster. You can verify a charity’s legitimacy on Charity Navigator.
EVACUATION CENTERS
- Arcadia Community Center – 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007.
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331.
- Pan Pacific Recreational Center – 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036.
- Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 (accepts small animals).
- El Camino Real Charter High School – 5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.
- Pasadena Civic Center – 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (Pasadena Convention Center is currently no longer accepting donations of food, water, emergency supplies or donations of any kind because they have had an overwhelmingly generous response).
- Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768.
- Pierce College: 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills (accepts large animals).
Claims for insurance
Your insurance provider is required to pay you at least four months' worth of rent for the neighborhood where you reside if your house was totally destroyed. As soon as you are in a secure location, you should get in touch with your insurer and begin the procedure.
Posted by Paul Burrowes on
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