The City of LA and LA County DEO announce the application portal is now open for the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds. Through these funds, eligible small businesses and nonprofits can receive up to $25K in grants. Eligible impacted workers can obtain $2K in cash assistance.

To apply, visit laregionfund.lacounty.gov. Applications open February 6, 2025, and close on February 24, 2025 at 5PM PST.

Impacted small business owners and workers residing in the City of LA can receive application assistance through the WorkSource and BusinessSource Centers.

In light of the fires and the devastating impacts they're going to have on the Westside, the Westside Vision Coalition hosted a community meeting bringing people together to talk about the long-term impacts of the fire and ways people can help as we rebuild. 

This meeting took the form of a virtual mass call on Sunday, January 26th. We heard from speakers discussing the impacts of the fires on housing, workers, the environment, and our unhoused communities.

If you have been directly or indirectly impacted by the fires, please complete the survey below. The results will inform our advocacy work and hopefully help folks connect to others in their neighborhood so that we can build connections for future emergencies.

Link to video of this event

Chad Comey shared this really moving video of his family's building after it burned down and what he and his parents went through, his story really highlights that not everyone who's lost their homes in the Palisades is a millionaire who will bounce back easily. You can donate to Chad's GoFundMe to support his family.

Faizah Malik presented this excellent slideshow with many essential Know Your Rights resources. Faizah mentioned the efforts to report landlords for price gouging, you can learn about how to get involved with that in this article. There's also this Instagram post from Public Counsel to share with anyone who needs legal support as they recover from the fires. Lastly, she asked everyone to please submit written comment regarding enacting an emergency eviction moratorium and rent freeze, and to also email and call Traci Park's office to make it clear you support this motion.

Email: councilmember.park@lacity.org

Call: 213-473-7011

Chuy Orozco put together very detailed slides for helping undocumented immigrants navigate resources that might be available to them in this crisis. These slides are fantastic because whether you know someone who's been directly impacted by the fires or is just scared about accessing resources during a second Trump administration, there are tons of ways to help meet people's needs. You can access his presentation in English and Spanish.

Dr. Ndindi Kitonga shared an illuminating presentation on the perspective that her organization, Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid, had to share. Ndindi highlighted the unique struggles unhoused people experience on the Westside and how the fires have heightened those existing crises. You can review Ndindi's slides here and donate to PUMA's lifesaving work here. She also wanted to link to Fairfax Mutual Aid, Black Lantern Books, Bernie's Coffee Shop, and LATU Westside.

Faith Myhra spoke passionately about the environmental impacts of the fires and the need to get LA off fossil fuels. She wanted to share this article on the ongoing health risks in the air quality to be aware of. She also wanted to be sure folks sign this petition to make fossil fuel companies pay for the disasters they've created.