**ALTADENA** – As flames consumed a nearby canyon, residents of a sober-living home were forced to evacuate to an unoccupied building located approximately 30 miles south. Many of the evacuees, previously homeless individuals, watched in despair as their home burned live on television. The following morning, as they awoke on air mattresses, the gravity of their loss began to set in. Some faced uncertainty, while others were thrust back into memories of lives they thought they had left behind. “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 Sean Brown, a resident. “It felt like I was back at square one.”
The large two-story house in Altadena, affectionately known as the Art House by both staff and residents, was surrounded by fruit trees and rugged mountain terrain. For many, it was a refuge that allowed them to achieve sobriety, rebuild relationships, and maintain employment. In January, nearly 50 individuals were displaced when the devastating Eaton Fire destroyed one property and damaged another operated by the nonprofit Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Supported by public funding, this organization provides housing and behavioral health assistance to people battling addiction, many of whom had previously lived on the streets. Organization leaders are currently seeking permanent housing for those affected, as both properties have been deemed uninhabitable.
“Our residents are still in temporary lodging. Right now, we’re searching for interim housing but also need to find long-term solutions for them,” stated Juan Navarro, CEO of the nonprofit. “Moreover, we require more beds. There’s been an increased demand for treatment services following the fires.” In the aftermath of one of the costliest natural disasters in the nation, it has become starkly clear that the wildfires in Los Angeles have not only displaced individuals who had managed to escape homelessness but have also weakened the region’s efforts to address homelessness. The extensive network of support formed by government entities and local charities, buoyed by billions of dollars in recent investments, now faces new challenges in the wake of the fires.
Maria Mendoza, who is recovering from addiction, described her evacuation from the recovery home during the fire. Although she feels somewhat secure in her temporary housing, she remains anxious about losing it. The memories of that night continue to haunt her. “It was very windy, very dark, and I was having one of the worst panic attacks of my life,” she recounted.
Jennifer Hark Dietz, a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of PATH, an organization that provides services and housing for the homeless, expressed concerns: “Many of the people we work with have already lost everything, and they’re attempting to rebuild their lives. Now there’s a whole new group in the same situation, competing for limited resources.”
In the years preceding the fires, state and local officials had utilized unprecedented funding to create thousands of shelters and housing units. This led to significant progress in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County, although over 187,000 individuals remain homeless in California, with about 75,000 in Los Angeles County alone. The 2024 homelessness statistics reveal a 45% increase in those transitioning from the streets to permanent housing, and a 32% rise in individuals moving from tents to temporary accommodations, as reported by Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
While homelessness nationally rose by 18% from 2023 to 2024, California’s rate increased by just 3%, with Los Angeles County even witnessing a slight drop in overall homelessness. However, the recent wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of residents and destroyed over 16,000 structures, further straining an already limited supply of affordable housing. Formerly homeless individuals who have faced addiction, domestic violence, or mental illness now fear they won’t be prioritized for housing placements, despite their qualifications for state and local initiatives aimed at reducing homelessness.
The exact number of previously homeless individuals who are now homeless again is unclear. Many street medicine providers report that some are currently living in hotels, while others have sought refuge with friends or family. There is growing evidence that some have returned to homelessness. “We’re already seeing people moving into their vehicles because they can’t afford even temporary housing,” noted Adams Kellum. “Before the fires, we were witnessing vulnerable individuals struggling to manage their rent, and now more competition for housing increases the risk for everyone at the bottom.”
At present, residents of the destroyed Art House are being housed in an alternative building in Santa Fe Springs, which the nonprofit previously intended for redevelopment as a residential treatment facility. However, finding stable housing remains a formidable challenge. The temporary nature of their accommodations also fosters feelings of anxiety, as many yearn for the transformative environment of the Art House—a space they referred to as an “empowerment campus.” “Art House was a place of healing. That’s where I found myself; it’s where I built my recovery,” reminisced Paul Rosales, a 24-year-old recovering from meth addiction, adding, “Everything that felt safe and secure is gone now.”
Though the residents are thankful to avoid living on the streets, anxiety continues to escalate, particularly among queer and transgender individuals who had formed a strong community there. Alexandria Castaneda, a 29-year-old who has overcome meth addiction, remarked, “It’s a constant stress of not knowing if I’m going to have a stable housing situation.”
As providers express concern over dwindling resources, they emphasize the urgency of not neglecting those who remain in homelessness. “We don’t want the wildfires to de-prioritize those already experiencing homelessness,” stressed Sarah Hoppmeyer, chief program officer for Union Station Homeless Services.
Elected representatives have committed to maintaining the progress made in Los Angeles County to reduce homelessness by leveraging existing resources and advocating for additional support. Several voter-approved initiatives are deemed crucial, along with persistent lobbying for state assistance. “Without continued and expanded support and resources, we risk losing ground in reducing the number of people living on the streets,” warned Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Drawing parallels with the fallout from previous massive fires—such as those in Sonoma County in 2018 and Maui in 2024, which both saw spikes in homelessness—the call for robust strategies to address these challenges has never been more pressing. State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat representing parts of Los Angeles County affected by the wildfires, has pledged to advocate for increased homelessness funding, emphasizing the pressing need for support in rebuilding lives amid this crisis.
