“It’s Awful to Lose Your Roots”: Los Angeles Fire Recovery at 20 Months
Nearly two years after the fires, recovery is moving forward in visible ways. But for most survivors, fundamental barriers remain—and with them, the financial, practical, and emotional impacts of an uneven and slow recovery.
Between August 25 and September 8, 2026, we surveyed more than 2,000 fire-impacted residents across Altadena, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Pasadena for the Department of Angels’ seventh Community Voices: LA Fire Recovery Report. The findings show how financial strain is affecting households, barriers to access are leaving aid unused, and more people are being pushed toward difficult decisions about their future. Taken together, these findings offer a clearer picture of what fire recovery looks like, and its impact on survivors across the Los Angeles region.
Two thirds of survivors are still not home. Most remain displaced, while others have permanently relocated. Among those who lost their homes entirely, just 1% have returned, underscoring the length and complexity of recovery.
The Cost of Recovery Is Putting Survivors in Crisis
Rebuilding is becoming an increasingly visible part of the landscape across fire-impacted communities. But that construction is coming at great personal cost to many survivors: nearly 80% have experienced financial difficulties as a result of the fires. And, nearly 30% of them have faced dire consequences, including debts sent to collections, wage garnishment, or eviction. Lower-income survivors are particularly likely to say they have no way to cover their financial shortfalls or are unsure how they will.
“We’ve been living in limbo for 18 months. We can’t rebuild before settling with SCE [Southern California Edison]. We’ve almost reached the end of our loss of use funds and will have to start paying rent and the mortgage on our destroyed home.”
- Altadena survivor
Survivors with Standing Homes Are Stuck, Too
While new construction continues, roughly one in three survivors with standing homes are still displaced. One in five believe they need remediation to address fire-related damage and contamination, but have not received it. Repairs and remediation have stalled or not yet started for 32% of those with standing but damaged homes. The biggest barriers are financial: 46% cite delayed or insufficient insurance payouts, while 41% say the out-of-pocket cost is too high.
“It’s really frustrating that smoke damage is real and keeps you from living in your house but the insurance companies don’t see it that way and therefore we have a lawsuit going on and I don’t know how to navigate that or when or if I ever get paid back for that.”
- Altadena survivor
Recovery Resources Aren’t Fully Reaching the People Who Need Them
Many survivors remain unaware of free services, including environmental testing, legal aid, case management, and rebuilding support. Others assume they won’t qualify, feel others need help more, or are overwhelmed by the process. For example, while only 27% of survivors have used free environmental testing and remediation services, another 27% didn’t know the services existed. These findings point to a clear lack of awareness and barriers to access, despite continued need. More work is needed to ensure survivors know what help is available and can access it.
“Each [aid organization] has its own eligibility requirements and narrow area of giving, often established long before the fires. So many survivors simply do not fall within those boundaries. We may earn too much for one program, live in the wrong ZIP code for another, lack children or homeownership, or fail to meet some other very specific criterion. That does not mean our losses were any less devastating or that we do not need help.”
- Altadena survivor
“Recovering from a disaster does not end when the fire is put out. My family is still dealing with the emotional and financial effects of losing our home, being displaced, and trying to rebuild a stable life. Families like mine need continued housing assistance, financial support, and accessible resources—not just immediately after a disaster, but throughout the long recovery process. Continued compassion and support can make a meaningful difference.”
- Pacific Palisades survivor
As More Survivors Decide, More Are Choosing to Sell
The share of survivors who have sold, are in the process of selling, or say they plan to sell their property has risen to 11%, up from 7% in June. At the same time, the share who remain undecided has fallen for the third consecutive quarter, from 20% in April to 14% in June and 9% now—suggesting more survivors are being pushed toward making a decision about whether they can stay or rebuild.
“I’m worried that because of financial losses from the disaster and the current economy that people will sell their properties and no one will return.”
- Pacific Palisades survivor
“Very stressful starting over at 68 years old. I want my home back but I am afraid it will cost more than I can afford to rebuild.”
- Malibu survivor
Communities Need Their Neighbors to Fully Recover
Physical rebuilding alone does not restore a community. Across impacted communities, 56% report fewer neighbors back or a reduced sense of community as a top concern. Other widely felt challenges include environmental safety concerns; construction noise, dust, or debris; safety concerns (such as theft or vandalism); and a lack of open businesses and services.
These findings are a reminder that rebuilding homes is only part of recovery. Families also need safe neighborhoods, functioning local businesses, shared spaces, and the return of the people and places that make a house feel like home.
“Our kids were affected by COVID closures, then this fire. It’s not easy for them. Friends lost their homes and moved away. Those play dates are gone. The coffee shop in Altadena where we used to meet up with a mom friend is gone. There’s nowhere for them to play…It’s depressing to drive around Altadena and see that only every 5th home is rebuilding.”
-Altadena survivor
“We are still suffering so much and feel forgotten about. The PTSD is real and we just feel so unsettled and like we’re just drifting in the wind. It’s awful to lose your roots.”
- Malibu survivor
Turning Survivors’ Experiences into Action
Survivors still need a path home that is financially possible, safe, and practical for their families—and to return to complete communities. Creating that path requires more resources, fewer barriers, and solutions grounded in the realities survivors face.
The Department of Angels uses what survivors share to help inform that work. The findings in our Community Voices reports have helped advance access to assistance through programs such as the CalAssist mortgage fund and FEMA Individual Assistance; inform reporting and policy change on insurance, environmental health, and housing stability; and bring survivors’ experiences directly to members of Congress.
We continue to advocate for federal recovery funding, push for greater accountability and access to insurance, expand environmental testing and cleanup, and work alongside community organizations to help ensure resources reach the people who need them.
Survivors have shown extraordinary perseverance in the face of immense challenges. They continue to work toward rebuilding their homes, restoring their communities, and creating a future for their families. Their determination should be met with the support necessary to make that future possible.