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Dear Friend,
Peter, a 70-year-old resident of Pasadena, had lived in the same apartment for over five years. He relied on a modest Social Security income supplemented by part-time work to make ends meet. But when he was unexpectedly laid off from his job, Peter’s financial situation quickly grew unstable.
Though he was able to temporarily rely on unemployment benefits, those funds expired before he could secure new employment. With no other safety net and limited income, Peter fell behind on rent. As the arrears added up, he faced the very real possibility of eviction.
Peter reached out to our Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance (EPRA) program for help. After meeting with our case manager, he was eligible for assistance. EPRA staff coordinated with Peter’s landlord to cover a few months of back rent as well as current rent, contingent upon participation in a payment plan and case management, coordinated between Peter, our case manager, and the landlord.
This flexible, layered approach not only prevented Peter’s eviction: it gave him the breathing room and peace of mind to focus on job applications and maintain his housing during a vulnerable chapter of his life.
With targeted assistance and a strong collaboration between tenant, landlord, and service provider, EPRA helped ensure Peter could stay in the home he’s known for years—and avoid the trauma and instability of displacement.
Peter’s story is a reminder that we are continuing to balance our time and resources on those affected by the Eaton fire, and those whose challenges and scary situations have nothing to do with the fire.
Yesterday, I interviewed a mother who lost her home for my podcast (episode coming soon), and sat with her through tears as she recounted the night of January 7th and the months of pain and suffering that her family has endured. I am grateful we were able to enroll her in our new time-limited subsidy program (TLS), and thankfully, she and her two kids are in a new apartment back in Pasadena.
Today, I had the opportunity to join a round table discussion with Rep. Ro Khanna, from Northern California, who was touring Altadena and the Palisades, to see the destruction firsthand. I listened to stories of families struggling with insurance, driving kids long distances to school after being displaced, of congregations with dozens of families who lost their homes. And I saw all of the businesses still burned out, as I hadn’t driven up Lake Avenue in a few months. Obviously, this is not new, but it was a stark reminder that we are still at the beginning of a very long and difficult period. I was grateful for the congressman listening intensely and asking good questions.
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