Collaboration Brings Hope and Housing to Eaton Fire Survivor

When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena and parts of Sierra Madre and Pasadena in January 2025, the destruction was swift and disorienting. In the midst of the devastation, a network of local organizations and neighbors began quietly stitching together strategies for interim housing.

One of the earliest efforts was started with an anonymous donation to Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF). The gift carried a very specific purpose: to support temporary housing through RV rentals for those who lost their home. A gift from God’s Love Foundation to the Altadena Builds Back Foundation (ABBF) to help subsidize rental assistance and some other smaller donations added up.  The message from donors was clear: keep families close to their properties as they rebuild – rent free.

A Coalition Steps Forward

Turning those designated dollars into real housing required more than funding. It required coordination, creativity, and a coalition of partners willing to work through the complexities of post‑fire recovery.

PCF and ABBF staff connected Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) to El Monte RV.   Greenline Housing Foundation and LA Voice, joined this team of dedicated volunteers. Together, they formed the Altadena RV Temporary Housing Group, a working team committed to identifying survivors who could benefit from on‑site temporary housing and navigating the logistics to make it possible.

One Resident’s Story among Many

Among the residents identified was Louise St Juste, a longtime Altadena homeowner and fire survivor. Louise had already secured the permits needed to begin rebuilding the home she plans to pass on to her children. What she lacked was a safe place to live on‑site as she supervised the rebuild.

With a grant from PCF/ABBF of $36,000, the group arranged for Louise to rent a fully equipped RV for just $1 per month for one year. Greenline Housing Foundation stepped in to administer the funds and cover the rental payments. On November 22, 2025, the RV was delivered to Louise’s property, giving her stability and proximity as she begins the long process of rebuilding.

Louise’s story offered a tangible example of how designated donations, when stewarded carefully, can create collective impact and translate into meaningful relief.

A Model for What Comes Next

For PCF, the project underscores its commitment to honoring donor intent while responding flexibly to the evolving needs of fire survivors. For the partners, it demonstrates what can happen when organizations pool their strengths. And for residents like Louise, it is one step, a meaningful one, in a much larger community journey toward recovery.

“This milestone represents not only a practical solution but also a symbol of resilience and community solidarity. The group remains committed to supporting additional families, with the hope of helping many more residents return to their properties and rebuild their homes in their beloved hometown of Altadena.”

Ammar Alghafari, General Manager, El Monte RV

Louise St. Juste’s RV on her damaged property in Altadena.