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Rebuild, Restore, Remain

Our Eaton Fire Relief Fund

While natural disasters do not intend to discriminate on the basis of race or class, our country’s history of systemic racism in housing, like the practice of redlining, means the segregated communities of today are often hit harder by natural disasters such as the Eaton Fire. 

Disproportionate Impact

61% of Black households in Altadena were located within the fire perimeter, compared with…

61% of Black households in Altadena were located within the fire perimeter, compared with 50% of non-Black households.

Nearly half (48%) of Black households were destroyed or sustained major damage, compared with 37% of non-Black households.

Source: UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies
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An Aging Population at Risk

With 57% of Black homeowners in Altadena over the age of 65, many face…

With 57% of Black homeowners in Altadena over the age of 65, many face unique barriers to recovery.

This includes the possibility of insufficient insurance and risks of financial exploitation related to rebuilding or restoring their homes.

Source: UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies
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Interruption of Generational Wealth

The fires will directly disrupt the passage of property to younger Black community members,…

The fires will directly disrupt the passage of property to younger Black community members, making the transfer of generational wealth in this community uncertain.

Additionally, rising property values and pre existing barriers to homeownership for Black buyers prevent younger Black people from buying in the area. These two factors threaten to erase Altadena’s Black community altogether.

Source: UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies
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Altadena: A Sanctuary for the Black Community

Before the Eaton Fire, Altadena was known as one of the most diverse areas of Los Angeles County with 58% of its residents identifying as People of Color. 18% of whom are Black. During The Great Migration of the 1930’s some Black families were able to move into parts of Altadena. Following the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, even more Black families flocked to Altadena.

It became a refuge and a sanctuary for the Black community and was one of the more affordable, middle-class areas where Black families could realize the American Dream of homeownership. At its peak in 1990, 40% of Altadena residents were Black.

Today, 8 out of 10 Black residents in Altadena are homeowners. That’s almost double the national Black homeownership rate.

Many of these homes and businesses were passed down from generation to generation helping to create culturally vibrant neighborhoods and rich communities while at the same time increasing generational wealth for these families through home and business ownership.

Now so many of those homes and businesses have burned down.

Together, we can help.

Additionally, we know that the recovery for Black and Hispanic people will in general be much harder than for our white brothers and sisters because of historical systemic inequities and lack of access to resources.

That’s why we’re focusing our efforts on assisting Black and Hispanic families impacted by the fire, but we can’t do it without your help.

Rebuild, Restore, and Remain: Our Eaton Fire Relief Fund

As a local non-profit living and working in the community, we know that recovery from the Eaton Fire will be a marathon not a sprint. As such, Greenline will focus our efforts on helping Black and Hispanic communities to…

Rebuild Homes
Restore Neighborhoods
Remain in the Community
Additionally, our plan addresses each phase of the long road ahead.
Phase One

Long Term Temporary Housing & Rental Assistance

We signed a corporate lease with an apartment complex in Glendale so that Greenline’s assets and income can qualify our families and we are able to match people with units and subsidize the amount they are able to pay. This effort is in partnership with Civic Soul, a mission-aligned nonprofit organization.

To date, we’ve helped 26 families secure long term temporary housing and have awarded over $500,000 in rental assistance for an average of over $20,000 per family.

“Losing everything in the Eaton Fire has been a devastating blow, but the outpouring of support, especially from people like Greenline, has been a beacon of hope. Greenline’s kindness has lifted a huge weight from our shoulders and gives us the strength to face the challenges ahead. Your generosity will be instrumental in helping us rebuild our lives.”
–Joe and Lerna

Phase Two

Landbanking

We were the first local community organization to implement an emergency land-banking initiative post-fire to keep properties out of the hands of those looking to capitalize from this disaster.

We purchased our first lot in Altadena that was impacted by the Eaton Fire with a grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation.

 

 

To date we’ve purchased two properties, investing over $1 million back into the community to ensure that the future use of this land is community-centered and informed and we plan to purchase more properties for this purpose.

Phase Three

Rebuilding

It is possible and even likely that insurance and FEMA payouts will not be adequate to cover the total cost of reconstruction and many in our communities are under-insured or, worse, don’t have insurance if they don’t have a mortgage. Greenline will stand in that gap to ensure that the cost of rebuilding does not prevent our community from staying in their community. We hope to offer $250,000 per family in construction costs support over what insurance and FEMA offer for rebuilding.

In the News

Greenline has emerged as one of the leaders in the long-term rebuilding and recovery of Altadena. To that end, this has led to increased media exposure and visibility.

PBS
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ABC
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Good Faith Podcast
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CBS
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Policy Shaping

As Greenline has emerged as one of the leaders in the long-term rebuilding and recovery of Altadena we’ve been invited to the table to help influence and shape public policy on a local, county, and state level.

Meeting with California State Senator, Sasha Perez to discuss the rebuilding efforts and the needs of the community.
Greenline’s Founder & Executive Director, Jasmin Shupper, spoke at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Summit on Equitable Recovery and Resilience along with Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, and other community leaders and experts.

Our Partners

We’re thankful for the growing list of grant-making organizations and strategic partners helping to make this work of restoring, rebuilding, and remaining a reality.

“Altadena’s Black community has long served as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in the Los Angeles region, but the Eaton Fire exposes how decades of segregation and the legacy of redlining practices have left Black households more vulnerable… The recovery process must acknowledge this historic legacy and the disparities stemming from it… Policymakers and relief organizations must act swiftly to protect the legacy and future of this historic community.”

–Lorrie Frasure, Director, UCLA Bunche Center

It Will Take All of Us.

The reality is the scale and magnitude of rebuilding, restoring, and remaining in Altadena will require funding from institutions and individuals alike.

Give Today

Get housing. Give housing.

Need a place to stay?

If you’re Black or Hispanic, own a home in Altadena or Pasadena, and have been displaced by the Eaton Fire, we can help. Fill out the intake form below to get started.

Intake Form

Have a place to rent?

If you’re a property owner in the San Gabriel Valley with rental housing available and looking to assist those that have been displaced, fill out the form below.

Inquiry Form
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