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Inside: This newsletter is loaded with 2025 LA Fires Regional recovery events happening tomorrow and beyond. There is a lot in here you will not want to miss. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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The Mission of the Los Angeles Region Community
Recovery Organization is to identify, coordinate, and offer disaster recovery
resources in affected areas to address disaster-caused recovery needs and
strengthen the resilience of impacted individuals. ~ The Regional Long Term Recovery Organization unites a coalition of organizations dedicated to partnering with Los Angeles region communities impacted by disaster.
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2025 LA Fires Resource Newsletter, 17th Issue, 12/15/2025
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Community Members, We’ve got some special in-person events this weekend and fresh resources to help you navigate the weeks ahead. You’ll find new opportunities inside, plus links back to our Resource Guide, past Community Newsletters, and the Upcoming Events page. This newsletter is loaded with information. Please scroll through to see if there is something that fits your needs.
Permit Fee Waivers We wanted to draw your attention to the Permit Fee waivers that may be available to you, depending on where your fire-impacted property was. The County of Los Angeles is offering permit waivers. There are details below in the Government section. The City of Malibu is offering permit waivers. Again, see below for the details. The City of Los Angels has the motion to waive the fees before the City Council, and a vote has not been taken. If you would like to see the discussion from the City Council Meeting, you can follow this link. (The discussion is at approximately 2:55:00 into the video)
Employment Opportunities Be sure to check out the Employment Assistance section below for recent employment opportunities.
Please forward this message to anyone who may benefit, and please encourage them to sign up for our newsletters. Past newsletters can be viewed here: Community Newsletters — Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization In this issue, you will find: (scroll down for details, flyers, and links) Organizations will continue to support our communities’ long-term recovery by providing access to ongoing resources and opportunities. As we receive updates, we will share them with you, and we hope that you will find them helpful. You can also check your community’s long-term recovery groups (LTRGs) here:
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Upcoming Community Events
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Event Date: Dec 16th 2025 - 12-2 PM Event Address: 15247 La Cruz Dr, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Location: American Legion Post 283 Registration Required
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United Policy Holders: Survivor to Survivor Forum Tuesday, December 16th, 7pm PT Register for Zoom Link: www.uphelp.org/dec16 Connect in an online, informal, safe setting with trained volunteers and other survivors currently navigating wildfire recovery.
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Event Date: January 7, 2026 - 8:00am-1:00pm Event Address: 15247 La Cruz Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Location: Palisades American Legion Post 283 Pali LTRG and Palisades American Legion Post 283 invite the Palisades community to join a special morning of observance to mark one year since the January 7 Palisades Fire. The “White Glove Flag Presentation and Remembrance Ceremony” will bring together community members, civic leaders, and recovery partners in remembrance, gratitude, and unity. The program will commemorate the twelve Palisadians who lost their lives and pay tribute to the countless individuals and groups who are helping the community recover and rebuild.
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Basic Needs Check our website Recovery Resources page for more! Here is what is new:
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Financial Services Check our website for additional and ongoing financial workshops. Here’s what’s new and upcoming:
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The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs(DCBA) announced that applications for the Emergency Rent Relief Programwill open on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 9 a.m. PST.
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, January 23, 2026, at 4:59 p.m. PST. Directed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and administered by DCBA in partnership with The Center by Lendistry (TCbL), this new program will distribute more than $23 million in rental and mortgage relief to eligible landlords and homeowners affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and other wildfires. Anyone interested can review eligibility requirements, sign up for updates (including a link to the application portal when it opens), and access the application once open directly at lacountyrentrelief.com. Relief to Help Families Stay Housed The Emergency Rent Relief Program will provide financial assistance to: Eligible Landlords whose tenants were unable to pay rent due to emergency-related hardship, or whose rental units were directly affected by the wildfires and remain vacant due to needed repairs, and Displaced Homeowners who lost their homes in the wildfires and are now renting elsewhere while facing unpaid rent, unpaid mortgages, or other qualified expenses caused by recent emergencies.
Grants may cover up to six months of debt, with a maximum award of $15,000 per rental unit in most cases. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
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SBA is participating in the following events: 12/16 Tuesday Pali LTRG Senior Luncheon Event Time TBD American Legion Pacific Palisades Senior Lunch held by Pali LTRG Make an appointment with SBA
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The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is a state program that provides much-needed relief from mortgage payments for families whose homes are destroyed or severely damaged to the point they have been deemed uninhabitable as the result of a California disaster. Click the image above or here for more information.
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Legal Workshops and ResourcesCheck our website for additional and ongoing legal resources and financial workshops. Here’s what’s new and upcoming:
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Insurance Workshops & ResourcesCheck our website for additional and ongoing insurance resources. Here is what’s new or upcoming:
Wildfire Smoke Damage & Your Insurance Rights Thursday, December 18th, 5pm PT Register and pre-submit questions here: www.uphelp.org/dec18 This 90 minute webinar will feature a panel of leading professionals with expertise in assessing, testing, remediating, and restoring wildfire smoke damaged homes to safe and habitable pre-loss condition, plus California Insurance Laws and Regulations, Industrial Hygiene protocols and standards, and related topics.
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Emotional Care and Wellness Resources
Check our website for additional and ongoing Emotional Care resources. Here is what’s new or upcoming:
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Disaster Distress HelplineThe Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990. Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.” For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: Please text or call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 using your preferred Relay provider.
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Rebuilding/Repair/Home Needs
Check our website for additional and ongoing rebuilding resources. Here is what’s new or upcoming:
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The County of Los Angeles has partnered with Canibuild, an AI-powered geospatial pre-construction platform, to launch a new public portal that empowers homeowners recovering from the Eaton and Palisades Fires to understand what they can rebuild on their property in unincorporated areas.
By integrating instant zoning, overlays, setbacks, and buildable envelopes, the LA County Portal represents a new model: Pre-Approved Plans + real-time zoning = true acceleration of permitting and recovery.
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The Los Angeles County Post-Fire Environmental Data Dashboard is updated continually as new assessment results are made available. Residents are encouraged to check the dashboard regularly for updates. Changes are highlighted in the “Latest Updates” section on the homepage. Key recent updates are summarized below: Updated data showing results of soil lead testing by ZIP code through November 2025. Please note that this free soil testing program was recently expanded to include the community impacted by the Palisades Fire. Updated data showing results of blood lead testing through November 2025. Updated section with results from soil and/or air testing at Dahlia Heights Elementary School, Marquez Charter Elementary School, Palisades Charter High School, and Rockdale Elementary School. Added new section highlighting the PHEER Network’s health exposure map, which serves as a compilation of data tracking the aftermath of the January 2025 wildfires. Updated section to include Data Brief #7.1, describing reduced Chromium-6 levels in air near the burn zones.
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To support economic recovery in the wildfire burn areas, for a limited period, buy a Shop Local Los Angeles County Gift Card to use at an eligible impacted business in the Recover Local Business Directory and get a bonus gift card equal to 50%* of the amount of the original Gift Card purchased. $100 gift card gets you a $50 bonus gift card. $50 gift card gets you a $25 bonus gift card. $20 gift card gets you a $10 bonus gift card.
*Bonus gift cards are limited to one per customer and available only until they run out. They are only valid for one year after purchase. **Original gift card purchased is subject to a processing fee of $1 + 5% of the card value. If not utilized within 12 months, the purchased gift card will incur a $3.00 fee that will be deducted monthly from the voucher balance starting on the first day after 12 consecutive months of inactivity, counted from the date of issuance or the last activity on the voucher.
Business Support and Resources
Fire-impacted entrepreneurs seeking help with sign-up, permits, or recovery services can access in-person assistance at:
📍 Altadena One-Stop Permit Center 464 W. Woodbury Rd., Suite 210, Altadena, CA 9100 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 🕗 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
📍 East LA Entrepreneur Center 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Los Angeles, CA 90022 Monday – Friday 🕗 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
📞 Phone: 844-432-4900 📧 Email: osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov Employment AssistanceCheck our website for additional and ongoing Employment Aid Resources. Check out the Department of Economic Opportunity and this flyer here. Eaton Fire Youth@WorkIn response to the January 2025 Windstorms and Wildfires, DEO is providing 500 Youth@Work job opportunities for youth and young adults ages 14–24 who were impacted by the Eaton Fire. Youth who lived or are currently living in the fire zone, evacuation order zone, or evacuation warning zone during the Eaton Fire emergency are eligible to apply. For more information, click here.
The Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program provides immediate hiring and training support for impacted and dislocated workers from the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires in partnership with LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the region’s America’s Job Centers of California. Check eligibility and fill out an interest form here. The Hospitality Training Academy (HTA) is offering paid training opportunities to help fire-impacted residents launch careers in food service and hospitality. Current openings include: Prep Cook Pre-Apprenticeship – Learn kitchen safety, knife skills, and food handling. Line Cook Apprenticeship – Advance culinary skills and earn a U.S. Department of Labor certification. Barista Apprenticeship – Gain hands-on barista and customer service experience with food safety certifications.
Eligible applicants must be LA County residents, age 18+, impacted by the 2025 fires, and authorized to work in the U.S. Apply here (Select “HTA” on question 11).
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Resource GuidesLA Region Community Recovery Organization (LARCRO) Resource Guide LARCRO has developed a simple, easy to navigate region wide resource guide (click here - Resource Guide) to assist in identifying available services. The list is frequently updated, and it will lead you directly to the organizations that will partner with you toward your sustainable long-term recovery. Better Angels Relief Navigator Better Angels launched the LA Disaster Relief Navigator, an online tool to help Angelenos impacted by the wildfires effectively navigate the many resources potentially available to them. The solution is designed to help people navigate every aspect of fire relief, including applying for federal, state and local government assistance; making insurance claims; temporary and permanent housing solutions; income loss mitigation; and other critical services. The Navigator provides personalized action plan based on individual circumstances, making the recovery process immediately actionable and putting the community on a path to recovery. Click here to access the LA Disaster Relief Navigator Disaster Case Management Program The Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is FEMA-funded and provides supplemental Disaster Case Management services to vulnerable populations. The DCMP is a limited-term, holistic partnership between a case manager and an individual survivor or household to identify and address unmet needs caused by the declared disaster. Through this partnership, the case manager works with the survivor to develop a comprehensive recovery plan to assist the survivor with any un-resourced items, support, or assistance that has been assessed and verified as necessary for the survivor to recover from a disaster.
The January 2025 wildfires are an active DCMP under the name:
DR-4856 - 2025 Wildfires Straight-line Winds (January) To see if you qualify, please call 833-775-3267 or click here for more information from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Disaster Services Branch (DSB).
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Government and Emergency Information Disaster Preparedness - LA City Ready Your LA Neighborhood Program The City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department has launched the Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN) Program. RYLAN provides free and easy to use tools to help you and your family, business, and neighborhood prepare for disaster. Emergency preparation today will help to reduce injuries, protect your property and most importantly, save lives. Follow the link to access the program site.
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The City of Malibu has a Fee Waiver Program to help property owners affected by the recent fires. The program eliminates City planning and building permit fees for like-for-like, owner-occupied homes and duplexes.
The fee waiver applies to City of Malibu-issued permits for: Planning approvals and building permits Temporary housing Wastewater treatment system upgrades Required infrastructure (seawalls, water tanks, suppression systems) Accessory structures, hardscaping, and landscaping Key Deadlines: June 30, 2028: Fee Waiver Application Due June 30, 2028: Planning Applications Must Be Complete December 30, 2030: All Building Permits Must Be Pulled
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The County of Los Angeles’ Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) is authorized to inspect rental housing units in the unincorporated areas of the County, such as Altadena, for compliance with health and safety standards and will respond to tenant complaints. The Eaton fire created significant amounts of smoke and ash that deposited downwind from the fires. Air quality measurements during the fire found that the smoke contained toxins.
To meet state housing health and safety standards, landlords and/or rental property owners are required to maintain rental housing units in a safe and habitable condition. The likelihood of smoke damage from the Eaton Fire, including fire-related ash and soot in and around a rental housing property and/or a lingering smell of smoke, may present a health and safety risk to tenants and requires professional evaluation.
Read the Full Notice to owners and tenants of rental properties in the Altdena areas
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Additional Helpful Reference Resource LinksFor more resources, please click to go to the website:
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Outreach Calls from trained LARCRO volunteers - Have you heard from us?! Many of you have received calls or texts on behalf of the LA Region Community Recovery Organization www.laregionltrg.org to follow up with you to discuss your current living situation and your thoughts toward your recovery journey and process. Others may receive a text from 2-1-1 with similar information. Please note: if you miss a call from an unknown/unfamiliar number, please check your voicemail for a message and watch for a text from the trained LARCRO volunteer team. We might be able to provide you with some additional resources and information after we take some time to understand a bit more about your situation. The information we gather from you and from everyone we meet will be immensely helpful - we can make referrals to our partners who may be able to help with long-term recovery resources (materials, muscle, money). The call should take less than 30 minutes.
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Recovery Resource & Disaster Case Management Interest Form Your information helps us understand the community impact and how best to provide support. This form will only take a couple of minutes to complete. Your information will remain confidential. We do not check immigration status. If you check the box to share your contact information, a nonprofit (non-government) support team member will reach out to you and help you connect with resources and assistance. Note: Due to the magnitude of this disaster, these outreach calls may take some time.
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Please take care of yourselves and of each other... Together, you make a difference, and we are so grateful for all you do. The Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization continues to support you, your communities, and our partners on this long-term recovery journey. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your recovery journey.
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