Eaton Fire Recovery
Pasadena Village Provides Relief & Aids in Recovery for 1,000+ local older adults
The unexpected and devastating Eaton Fire has profoundly impacted all older adults in the Altadena and Pasadena area, and the demand for support has doubled since January. Communities of support built through Pasadena Village have helped older adults weather challenges that come with aging through the years. These peer support networks were critical when the fire began, and the older adults themselves contacted each other in the middle of the night, evacuated together, housed each other, and kept in touch in the days and months since.
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On January 8, Pasadena Village began organizing the check in calls to initially over 230 older adults, and started providing direct support for those impacted by the Eaton Fire. Initially, we identified over 90 of the older adults in our network who evacuated or sought shelter elsewhere when the Eaton Fire was burning, of those, 22 lost their homes and almost all of their possessions. With generous community support, we have expanded our efforts to offer various levels of support to over 1,000 individuals who were heavily impacted by the fire. In Spring 2025, we increased our capacity, including adding a new trilingual staff member (Spanish and Mandarin) and bilingual interns. We joined the Eaton Fire Collaborative (see below) and strengthened our partnerships to aid individuals in their next stages of recovery. Due to the generous gifts to our Relief Fund, we have distributed over $140,000 in gift cards directly to those who have lost their homes or were displaced by the fire. We have purchased over $47,000 in computers, art supplies, kitchen items, tools, clothing, and other equipment to support the independence of older adults who are recovering. |
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New and expanded initiatives include:
Offering relief and resources to 344 African American survivors at the second Eaton Fire Senior Summit on 8/2. Pasadena Village is a partner with Community Women Vital Voices on the summit series
Supporting and addressing the mental health of LGBTQ+ adults and allies through the Hope & Healing Supper Club, LGBTQ+ Holiday Brunch, and other programming
Fostering connections among older adults + supporting local restaurants through the Altadena Reconnect series of meals at local restaurants at no cost to participants
Allowing access to trusted resources and information through free educational presentations in English and Spanish where older adults can get their questions answered from architects, builders, mental health professionals, and others involved in recovery and rebuilding. Free resource website AgingSGV.org has resources and articles for and by older adults in English and Spanish. Resource connections have been made through partnerships for older adults to access free mental health, insurance navigation, and housing options
Improving the indoor air quality for older adults, especially for those who did not have their home remediated. Pasadena Village is sharing information about mitigating the ongoing effects of smoke and ash, replacing their home’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) filters with new high-end MERV-13 pleated filters, distributing over air purifiers, and HEPA-filter vacuums
Troubleshooting and supporting technology use for older adults to further their recovery, access resources, and amplify connections in English and Spanish through 1:1 tech help and monthly IT Cafes
Offering more transportation options for older adults through vetted volunteer drivers, arranging carpools, offering rides through a contract with Butterfli transportation services
Replacing supplies, technology, and other equipment through gift card distribution and purchases along with helpful volunteer assistance in assessing needs and following through on the installation and use of equipment
Friendly calls, visits, and meal deliveries to let older adults know they are not alone
The Need to Support Older AdultsAll older adults in the Altadena and Pasadena area have been impacted by the fires, and Pasadena Village’s initiatives are designed to address their resilience, mental health outcomes, and support networks. In particular, LGBTQ+ and African American adults who were impacted by the fire have faced lifetimes of disparities including negative socioeconomic pressures, prejudice, and unequal access to resources that have been exacerbated by the fire.
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Supporting LGBTQ+ AdultsThe initial findings of the UCLA Williams Institute highlighted the need for recovery efforts in response to the recent LA fires to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ adults. LGBTQ+ elders impacted by the Eaton Fire were less likely to have support networks and access resources and relief funds. Through ongoing partnership with the Altadena Pride, LGBT Center of San Gabriel Valley, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Pasadena Village has launched new programs to bring together members of the LGBTQ+ community. Supporting LGBTQ+ Adults |
Eaton Fire Collaborative
Pasadena Village is one of 200 organizational members of the Eaton Fire Collaborative (EFC). The EFC is a group of local nonprofits, community groups, city, county, and state officials dedicated to helping those affected. The EFC opened the new Collaboratory space in October 2025 as a central space for survivors to access vetted recovery resources, connect with one another, and engage directly with community partners driving long-term recovery efforts. Learn more here.
Disaster Relief & Recovery resources can be found on our AgingSGV.org site.
The Pasadena Village Relief Fund was established to provide continued support and immediate relief to older adults impacted, particularly focusing on our lower income community and those in need of immediate assistance.
Read older adult’s reflections on their experiences during and after the fire in our Eaton Fire blog posts.