Resources for March 11th

Introducing the ATU Tenants Guide!

Author

Altadena Tenants Union
March 11, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

It’s hard to believe it’s been sixty-three days since the fires broke out. It feels like it’s been about ten minutes and about ten thousand years, all at the same time.

In this email, we’re glad to be able to offer you our ATU Guide for Tenants, which is full of all the best information we’ve learned and gathered thus far; we hope you find it useful! It’s a living document, so it will continue to be updated and improved as we learn more.

We’re also planning a general meeting for Altadena tenants where we can come together and share our stories and experiences: please stay tuned for a date and time!

In the meantime, to everyone who has reached out and asked a question or requested assistance: we saw your email and we got it! We are triaging requests that come in to try and help folks who are in the most challenging situations first but please be assured that we will do our best to get back to you as soon as we can. (That’s also why we created the guide: much of our best advice and recommendations are housed there, so you don’t need to wait for us to email you back.)

In this email:

ATU Guide for Tenants Impacted by the Eaton Fire

In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Altadena renters are all too familiar with the challenges we are up against.

The intention of this guide is to lay out the landscape of current laws, information and resources, and suggestion for how to navigate challenges as an Altadena renter, both post-fire and always. We hope that this guide is helpful; we are very open to feedback for how we can make it better. We also want to hear your stories to keep learning more about what is and isn’t working for Altadena renters.

Please note that this is a living document that will continue to be changed/edited/added to as we continue to get more information about renters’ rights and best practices for dealing with challenges.

This document was not written by lawyers and is not a substitute for legal advice. Information about how and where to find legal support is included in this guide.

We’d like to thank  the Pasadena Tenants Union whose outstanding guide for fire-impacted tenants was the inspiration for this guide. 

LA County Relief Grants DEADLINE 5PM WEDNESDAY

Applications close at 5:00PM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12th, for the LA County Household Relief Grants. Please make sure you get your application in for this direct financial assistance.

Not sure if you qualify? Definitely still apply! LA County says on their website:

You are eligible if you are a Los Angeles county resident (INCLUDING tenants and renters) who has been physically displaced due to the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events and meet any of the following criteria:

(1) Your primary residence was completely destroyed by the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events; OR

(2) Your primary residence is within the impacted zones for the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events and was partially destroyed or severely damaged as a result thereof, making it uninhabitable; OR

(3) Your household experienced a death related to the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events.

Eligible households can receive grants in the amount of $6,000, $12,000, or $18,000 depending on household size and composition.

The County says right now that their deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, March 12th; they will continue to provide some technical assistance after that but ONLY for submitted and completed applications.

This application might take you a little longer than some others - it asks for additional documentation, including tax information, so make sure you have plenty of time to finish.

If you’re finding the process overwhelming or are having technical challenges, you can go in person to the Disaster Recovery Center on Woodbury Road where staff will be available to help you; one-on-one assistance is also available during the following hours at the DRC:

  • March 10-11, 2025: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • March 12, 2025: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

You can also call for assistance at (888) 788-0335.

FEMA Registration Deadline EXTENDED

FEMA has extended the application deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance to Monday, March 31, 2025.

FEMA assistance for individuals affected by the wildfire can cover rental assistance, temporary housing, home repairs, personal property losses and other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

To apply with FEMA:

In the ATU Tenants Guide, we offer a list of resources and options for getting legal help; unfortunately, the law EXISTING does not mean that landlords are actually going to follow it. If you are in a situation where you need legal assistance, we recommend starting with some of these options:

The Department for Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) is the LA County agency that oversees issues pertaining to tenants and landlords. They can advise you about the law, and you can report problems to them, but they don’t have a ton of enforcement mechanisms (although we have heard from some tenants who have had success filing complaints against landlords in recent weeks). Housing counselors can be reached M-F from 8am to 4:30pm  at 800-593-8222 or via email at [email protected]. You can also schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor at your preferred time.

The Fair Housing Foundation is dedicated to eliminating discrimination in housing and promoting equal access to housing choices for everyone. They can advise on issues including notices, security deposits, evictions, rent increases, and lease agreements. Call their hotline at (800) 446-3247 or email [email protected]. 

The Housing Rights Center has housing counselors who are available to answer your questions about tenant-landlord rights and obligations, including topics like security deposits, evictions, repairs, rent increases, harassment, and more. Conversations with Housing Counselors are private and confidential, and can help you find the resources you need. To speak with a Housing Counselor, please call their Housing Rights Hotline at 1-800-477-5977 (TTY: 1-213-201-0867), email [email protected], or visit one of their in-person clinics.

The Legal Aid Foundation of LA has a number of online resources available, as well as a hotline you can call for legal assistance. Call 800-399-4529. Also check out their online resources, including their webinar on Tenants' Rights After a Disaster (2025 LA Fires) and their FAQ: Tenant Rights After a Disaster.

Neighborhood Legal Services of LA can be found at the Altadena Disaster Recovery Center on Woodbury Road, and they provide free, legal help for individuals and families harmed by natural disasters including fires, earthquakes and floods. This includes help with disaster related issues like filing of claims with FEMA, housing, benefits, and other issues (including landlord-tenant issues). Call their hotline at 1-800-433-6251 or complete their online intake form (or visit in person at Altadena Disaster Recovery Center)

Stay Housed LA provides free legal services to eligible tenants facing eviction. They make sure tenants understand the eviction process and are fairly represented in court. Do you have an unlawful detainer (eviction lawsuit) filed against you? If YES – fill out their online intake form or call their hotline at 888-694-0040. If NO – please sign up for a workshop or clinic here.

Hang in there - you’re not alone. We’ll get through this together.

In solidarity,

Your Altadena Tenants Union