CONNECTRESILIENT FAMILIES REBUILDING TOGETHER
Here at Pactl.org, our families and children were directly impacted by the Eaton Fire event. This program will provide critical ongoing supports to families and children, including immigrants and refugees, impacted directly by the Eaton Fire.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Wildfire relief
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
San Gabriel Valley
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
The Eaton Fire of 2025 devastated our community and has had catastrophic lasting impact on our families who continue to deal with loss of homes, displacement, loss of income, loss of equipment and tools, and mental health decline, especially for displaced children. These families are in dire need and have been extremely impacted financially as so many lost their homes and jobs.
About 11% of households in the affected burn areas are classified as extremely low-income, meaning they earn no more than 30% of the median family income in the Los Angeles Metro Area. About 8% of the population lives below the Poverty Threshold. (ACS 5-yr, 2024)
We have been providing continued direct support to these families since January 9th and have learned much about how the fire and related issues are impacting our families and what their needs are. Our clients inform us of their emergent needs.
We have also created a community map that includes Latinos and African American families in need of support.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
We have provided crucial cash grants for families to meet their immediate basic needs and want to continue this important service. Pactl.org has, since January 9th, provided direct services to those displaced or impacted by the Eaton Fire, including: weekly food pantry, cash grants (totaling $200,000), supermarket gift cards, housing assistance, hotel subsidies, purchasing work tools for those impacted, offering mental health support, continuing family and youth programs such as Art Classes, Ukulele Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Saturday Academy, coaching and support, and Peer-to-Peer support groups. We want to expand our micro-enterprise program to serve more families by building their economic stability - currently 4 families are starting their micro-businesses.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
Los Angeles County will be improved by providing crucial support to Eaton Fire survivors, while presenting a pathway to address financial hardship for families through supporting workforce development and micro-enterprise so that our families and youth, including immigrants and refugees, may, like the legendary Phoenix, rise up from the ashes of the Eaton Fire.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 500
Indirect Impact: 2,000