Altadena, December 2025 (File Photo – Colorado Boulevard Newspaper)
Assemblymember John Harabedian praised Governor Gavin Newsom for formally requesting that the federal government extend disaster aid for survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires.
By News Desk
Harabedian said the governor’s action follows a February letter he submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting an extension of the FEMA Individuals and Households Program, which provides rental assistance to residents displaced by the fires. The letter was signed by three other state legislators representing communities impacted by the January 2025 fires.
“Our community is still reeling from the effects of the fire while continuing to fight for basic assistance from government agencies and insurance companies,” Harabedian said in a statement. “I thank the Governor for advancing the letter I was proud to author with my colleagues representing Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors earlier this year and look forward to the federal government honoring the request to keep our neighbors housed as they rebuild their homes and lives.”
The FEMA Individuals and Households Program has provided rental assistance to displaced residents since Jan. 7, 2025, but the aid is currently scheduled to expire in July 2026.
Harabedian warned that rebuilding efforts remain slow because of insufficient federal investment in recovery operations, leaving many survivors dependent on continued housing assistance while they work to restore their homes and communities.
According to Harabedian, failure by the federal government to extend the housing support could leave communities impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires facing a “crisis of mass homelessness” this summer.
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