Answers on Interim Housing and Rebuilding
Did you miss the April 2 housing symposium hosted by The Altadena Coalition? Read on for the five most important takeaways, and view the recording below for the full discussion.
1. Be quick but don’t hurry
A motto of the late basketball coach John Wooden sums up the advice of panelists to displaced residents. Among their reasons:
- Much of the public and private aid for Altadena has yet to be distributed. Many organizations are still deciding how to support residents. Existing programs may be expanded, as in the case of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers amending its debris removal program to include business properties. Residents should move quickly along their recovery plan, but not so quickly as to miss new funding opportunities.
- Expect rebuilding to take a minimum of 3-5 years. Contractors who promise a faster timeline should be viewed skeptically. All contractors should be vetted, and their licenses checked. Get more than one bid.
- Some residents who lost their homes have no choice but to sell. For those who do have a choice, panelists strongly suggested not selling at this time.
2. Make a plan and keep written records
Identify a friend or professional advisor to advocate with and for you. An advocate will help you negotiate, sit with you on calls with insurance companies and contractors, and help you prepare a written recovery plan. Local churches and non-profits may be able to provide this service (and The Altadena Coalition offers drop-in assistance on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Residents dealing with the traumas of loss and displacement should not go it alone if possible.
To be eligible for potential compensation and to protect your rights, keep written records of all your expenses and all conversations with insurers, contractors and government agencies or non-profits (disaster-related expenses include rent for temporary housing, purchases of furniture and clothes, additional commuting costs if you are forced to live far from Altadena or your employer, additional costs for eating out if you are not able to make meals in your temporary home, expenses for therapy, etc.).
3. Call your elected representatives
Panelist Demetrius Gray, a long-term disaster recovery consultant, stressed the importance of every affected resident speaking with and writing to the offices of local, state and federal representatives. Elected officials need to be educated in the specific circumstances and challenges of their constituents. Other panelists mentioned several initiatives and offices for constituents to contact:
- Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Gov. Gavin Newsom and other lawmakers are lobbying the federal government for $40B in additional disaster funds, and their offices need to be able to document the difficulties and hardships faced by constituents.
- The California Dept. of Insurance, headed by elected official Commissioner Ricardo Lara, assists residents in disputes with their insurance companies, and can also advocate for policy changes with state lawmakers.
- The Los Angeles County Development Authority is co-leading a housing task force with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the California Office of Emergency Services, and other agencies. The task force has applied for state funding and also hopes to receive federal disaster relief funds. For updates and to advocate with the task force, contact the office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
- Los Angeles County Measure A funds, approved last fall to address homelessness, potentially could be used to support residents struggling to find stable housing. For updates and to advocate for the use of Measure A funds in Altadena, contact the office of Sup. Barger.
- In past disasters, FEMA has leased residential properties directly and made the units available to survivors. That program still exists, but the request to turn it on has to be made by local elected officials.
4. Take advantage of relaxed rules
LA County Planning is making exceptions to support interim and permanent housing:
- Any resident with an uninhabitable or destroyed home can apply to place an RV, mobile home, or manufactured home on their property after Phase 2 of debris removal. The temporary structure can house the property owner and/or any fire survivor who has been displaced, such as a relative, or employee or volunteer, such as a construction worker.
- Temporary housing on a small lot can be accommodated on the public right of way, such as a sidewalk, as long as people and vehicles can pass safely.
- Accessory dwelling units, which are permanent structures, now can be built or rebuilt before the main dwelling when the latter is destroyed or not inhabitable. ADUs are faster and easier to build, and the county offers pre-approved plans for expedited approvals.
- The county also is building a catalog of pre-approved plans for single-family homes. A virtual seminar on pre-approved plans was to be held May 3, 2025.
The Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans for rebuilding, with up to 12 months of zero interest and zero payments, along with additional aid for resilient construction.
5. Keep trying for interim housing
All panelists acknowledged that the search for stable housing is difficult and costly. They offered the following advice and resources:
- Search frequently on housing sites such as the City of Pasadena’s Housing Search, which despite the name extends beyond the city’s boundary. Also check the listings page created by the Apartment Owners of Greater Los Angeles.
- FEMA offers 18 months of rental assistance, counting from Jan. 7, 2025, at the fair market rental rates determined by the Housing and Urban Administration for each zip code. As mentioned above, FEMA is not yet authorized to begin a direct leasing program for Altadena and the Palisades.
- Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County and other non-profits can also help residents.
- Contact all local housing authorities and offices of elected representatives.
The full video recording of the April 2 discussion is posted below. Panel members were:
First panel discussion
Moderator: Colleen Shalby, reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Panelists: Brenda Caloca, outreach analyst, California Dept. of Insurance; Demetrius Gray, long term disaster recovery consultant; Brandi Richard Thompson, public affairs officer, FEMA; Tanya Tull, homelessness innovator and founder of non-profit organizations LA Family Housing and Beyond Shelter; Corey Williams, public information officer, SBA
Second panel discussion
Moderator: Liam Dillon, reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Panelists: Connie Chung, deputy director, Advance Planning Division of LA County Planning; Tracie Mann, deputy executive director, LA County Development Authority; Enrique Robles, district chief of staff for Rep. Judy Chu; James Wong, housing director for the City of Pasadena