Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger on Thursday, Feb. 13, called on property owners with available rental units to help house people displaced by the Eaton fire.
Barger called the need “urgent” as there remains many who still need shelter in the area.
“We have an immediate need to support wildfire survivors who have been displaced from their homes and want to remain close to their communities,” said Barger, whose district includes Altadena, where the fire did most of its damage. “Many of these families are struggling to rebuild their lives while ensuring stability for their children. I urge property owners with available units to partner with us and provide a lifeline for those in need.”
The Eaton fire destroyed more than 6,000 homes, displacing thousands of households.
Barger said the L.A. County Development Authority is working alongside the American Red Cross to find one- and two-bedroom rental units within a 10-mile radius of the Eaton Fire boundary. The American Red Cross’s evacuation center at the Pasadena Convention Center was set to close in the coming days, but people were still living there, as officials worked to find a new location.
Properties in neighboring communities such as Pasadena, Glendale, and Monrovia are especially needed, Barger’s office said.
In her call for assistance from property owners, Barger noted that displaced renters will be responsible for covering rental costs – just as an any other private market tenant would be.
“Property owners are the key to helping the County’s impacted residents start to rebuild their lives,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA executive director, in a statement. “The LACDA is prepared to hear from property owners to connect them with the American Red Cross, so that together, we can serve as a bridge in this critical step for families to move forward.”
The call for assistance comes as many, both in the Los Angeles city fire footprint and in Eaton fire area, are scrambling to find housing, amid concerns over price gouging.
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday gave preliminary approval for an ordinance to bar excessive price increases for housing and lodging as residents recover from the January wildfires.
In a unanimous vote, council members voted to crack down on price gouging. Under the ordinance, landlords would be prohibited from raising rent by a significant amount during a declared emergency and charging fees for rent-related services such as gardening, parking or utilities that were not previously charged under the prior rental agreement.
Hotel and motel owners would be barred from raising rates by more than 10%.
Additionally, the city is expected to increase penalties for violators of the law.
Under the current policy, violations are punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or by imprisonment in county jail for up to six months.
The ordinance would create a new private right of action for victims of price gouging to pursue a civil lawsuit. If the victim wins the case, they could be awarded up to $30,000 per violation depending on the severity, tenant relocation costs and other appropriate relief.
Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades, along with several of her colleagues introduced a motion in January calling for such protections.
On Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to increase the penalty for price gouging to a maximum of $50,000 per violation.
State law allows for up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine for price gouging, which occurs when landlords or merchants charge more than 10% above what they were charging before a disaster occurs.
The county’s stricter penalties are expected to remain in effect for the duration of their declaration of a local emergency.
The California Department of Justice and the L.A. City Attorney’s Office both reported filing cases for real-estate agents and property owners who allegedly attempted to price gouge fire survivors seeking new homes.
Property owners with an available unit are asked to contact the LACDA at (626) 586-1570, (626) 586-1565 or via email at Owner.Services@lacda.org. LACDA staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
City News Service contributed to this article.