ALTADENA — As flames consumed a nearby canyon, numerous residents in a sober-living home evacuated to an empty building approximately 30 miles to the south. The evacuees, many of whom had once been homeless, watched in despair as their home was consumed by fire on live television.
Upon awakening on air mattresses the following morning, the sense of loss became palpable. Some felt the weight of uncertainty, while others were thrust back into lives they believed they had moved beyond.
“I had nothing but the clothes on my back. It just brought back all of those feelings of being homeless and a drug addict,” shared resident Sean Brown. “It felt like I was starting over again.”
The large two-story house in Altadena, known as Art House to its staff and residents, was surrounded by fruit trees and rugged hills. For many, it represented a safe haven that fostered sobriety, repaired relationships, and maintained employment.
Brown, 35, was among nearly 50 individuals displaced in January when the extensive Eaton Fire destroyed one property and damaged another operated by the nonprofit Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Funded by public resources, the organization provides housing and behavioral health treatment for those battling addiction, many of whom had lived on the streets. Officials report that both properties are now uninhabitable, and they are seeking permanent housing solutions for those affected.
“Our residents are currently in temporary accommodations. We are looking for something interim, but long-term housing solutions are still necessary,” stated Juan Navarro, CEO of the nonprofit. “We need even more beds, as the demand for treatment and services has surged post-fire.”
In the weeks following one of the nation’s most expensive natural disasters, it has become clear that the recent wildfires in Los Angeles have displaced not only individuals who had recently escaped homelessness but have also adversely affected the region’s response to homelessness. That extensive care system, composed of government bodies and local nonprofits, has been bolstered by billions in funding from the city, county, and state aimed at addressing California’s homelessness crisis.
Now, the wildfires are placing additional strain on a system already stretched thin in its efforts to shelter chronically homeless individuals. Providers of homeless services and street medicine have been advocating for increased funding from state and local leaders to house those living on the streets, but they face competing priorities for wildfire recovery resources and limited budgets.
“Many of the individuals we serve have already lost everything and are working to rebuild their lives, and now there is another group doing the same, vying for the same resources,” remarked Jennifer Hark Dietz, a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of PATH, an organization assisting homeless individuals.
In recent years, state and local officials have harnessed unprecedented investments to establish thousands of shelters and both temporary and permanent units. Such efforts have allowed Los Angeles County and the state to achieve meaningful progress, even with over 187,000 individuals still experiencing homelessness in California, including 75,000 in Los Angeles County.
The 2024 homelessness count indicated a 45% increase in the number of individuals who transitioned from streets to permanent housing in the past year, while the count for those moving from tents to temporary housing rose by 32%, according to Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which heads the countywide homelessness response. This equates to nearly 30,000 placements in permanent housing throughout Los Angeles County.
While homelessness saw an 18% rise nationwide from 2023 to 2024, as per the latest federal estimates, California’s increase was only 3%. Notably, Los Angeles County even reported a slight decline in overall homelessness.
The number of individuals living outdoors fell by 5.1% in Los Angeles County, while unsheltered individuals in the city of Los Angeles decreased by 10.4%.
This hard-earned progress is now at risk as wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of residents and destroyed over 16,000 structures. Already limited affordable housing options are being further strained.
Individuals who were formerly homeless and have faced addiction, domestic violence, or mental illness now fear they won’t receive prioritized placements, despite having lost their homes and qualifying for the state’s initiatives designed to provide shelter. Many homeless individuals who have long awaited housing may now face prolonged waits as more displaced people compete for limited resources.
Homeless Again
The extent to which formerly homeless individuals find themselves homeless again remains uncertain. Providers of street medicine and other frontline workers note that some have temporarily sheltered in hotels, while others have moved in with friends or family.
There is evidence that some have reverted back to homelessness.
“We are already seeing some individuals returning to their vehicles because they can’t afford even temporary accommodations,” Adams Kellum stated. “Before the wildfires, we were already observing highly vulnerable individuals struggling to cover their rents, so this competition for housing increases the risk of homelessness.”
Adams Kellum asserted that coordinating resources and services across a vast area has yielded significant strides, but more funding remains crucial to assist individuals transitioning from short-term to permanent housing.
Currently, residents from the destroyed Art House will temporarily reside in an unoccupied building in Santa Fe Springs, initially intended for redevelopment into a residential treatment facility, according to Navarro. He mentioned that while the organization is searching for stable housing options for those affected, rehousing them at Art House is not an immediate possibility.
Residents lament the loss of Art House’s transformative environment, often referred to as an “empowerment campus.” Brown expressed a commitment to this philosophy, even as he copes with displacement and trauma from the wildfires. He is presently juggling two jobs and continuing his studies toward a bachelor’s degree.
Paul Rosales, a 24-year-old recovering from meth addiction, described Art House as a sanctuary. “That’s where I discovered my true self; it’s where I built my recovery. There was a beautiful orange tree, and the mountains were just a short walk away, perfect for meditating and watching the sunset.
“It was a safe distance from Skid Row. I felt protected there,” Rosales recalled. “Now, it’s all lost.”
While residents express gratitude for not being on the streets, anxiety is mounting daily, particularly among the queer and transgender community that had built a supportive network there.
“I’m constantly stressed about whether I’ll have a stable housing situation,” shared Alexandria Castaneda, 29, who overcame meth addiction after securing shelter.
Battle for Resources
Sarah Hoppmeyer, chief program officer for Union Station Homeless Services, which assists people living on the streets, voiced her concerns about dwindling resources. She and other service providers emphasized the need to not overlook those still in homelessness, many of whom have been on lengthy waiting lists for housing.
“We must ensure that the wildfires do not lead to a de-prioritization of those already facing homelessness,” she urged.
Elected officials have committed to maintaining the gains made by Los Angeles County in reducing homelessness through the allocation of existing resources and advocating for additional funds. They point to several voter-approved initiatives in Los Angeles as essential, while also stressing the need for state support.
“Without ongoing and enhanced support, we risk losing the progress made in reducing the homeless population,” cautioned Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, chair of the county board.
Historical experience with major fires has shown that homelessness increases in their aftermath, such as in Sonoma County in 2018 and in 2024 on Maui, which saw a significant rise in homelessness the year following the fires.
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat representing areas in Los Angeles County affected by the wildfires, committed to continuing the push for additional homelessness funding as a member of the Senate budget committee. Although Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has allocated an unprecedented $27 billion to local responses and preventative measures against homelessness, no new funding to tackle the crisis was included in this year’s proposal.
“Sadly, we did not see an increase in funding this year,” Pérez noted. “However, ongoing investments are crucial.”
Newsom expressed on Monday that the state should not persist in “funding failure.” He is receptive to negotiations with cities, counties, and state legislators, provided that any new homelessness funding is accompanied by enhanced accountability, ensuring that local officials utilize the funds to dismantle encampments and lower unsheltered homelessness rates.
Officials from the governor’s office emphasized the current tightness of the state budget — it is narrowly balanced and faces more pressure than in prior years from potential federal funding cuts and challenges from the Trump administration, specifically concerning programs like Medicaid. The governor remains “hopeful that an agreement can be reached,” but warned that the state might retract funding if local authorities fail to adequately address street homelessness.
“We have been too lenient regarding encampments and tents. They need to be cleaned up,” Newsom asserted. “We’re currently providing unprecedented support. It’s time to see unprecedented outcomes.”
Assembly member John Harabedian, another Democrat from Los Angeles, argued for the necessity of increased homelessness funding for wildfire victims and to continue addressing the crisis statewide.
“Those individuals who were previously homeless and found some level of housing stability, only to lose it again — they need urgent assistance,” he emphasized. “Our system is failing to serve those in need.”
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