Relief Request Form

January 9, 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Over the last 24 hours, communities throughout Los Angeles County have been devastated by massive fires that have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed over 1,000 buildings, and killed five individuals. As the fires continue and families face many challenges, Labor Community Services (LCS) is ready to support and assist those in need during these historic fires in Southern California.
If the fires have impacted a member of your Union, we are ready to provide aid and relief.
Below are the available resources:

Housing Assistance:
We can assist with first and last-month rental assistance and help find permanent, long-term housing. 

Please note: We cannot assist with deposits.

For those needing temporary housing, please visit the American Red Cross website to find a shelter near your area. Staff on-site can assist you if you need permanent, long-term housing.

To qualify for rental, mortgage, or utility assistance, please submit copies of the following:
3-Day Notice or Foreclosure Documentation
Copy of a Utility Bill
Disconnection Notice

Proof of Income demonstrating the union member’s ability to make payments moving forward. If any of your union members need assistance, please complete the LCS Assistance Intake Form available at https://lcs-la.org. Submit the completed form along with the required supporting documentation to our Programs Manager, Marcos Juan, at marcos@lcs-la.org. Marcos will review the submissions and follow up once all information and documents have been processed.

Utilities:
If your member has outstanding utility bills (e.g., electricity, gas, or water), we can assist with those bills.

Food:
We can provide your members with boxes of food. These boxes, prepared by fellow union members and can feed a family of four.

Air Quality:
The air quality across Southern California will be significantly impacted for an extended period. If you have respiratory concerns, we encourage the use of high-quality face masks. LCS can provide these masks for distribution to your members in need.

Emergency Alerts and Additional Resources
We encourage all members to stay informed through the following resources:

Sign up for Emergency Alerts:
Sign up for the City of LA's emergency alert system, Notify LA, here.
Sign up for Alert LA County emergency alerts here. 
Additional local emergency alert systems for other municipalities in LA County can be found here. Federal Resources:
FEMA offers fire management assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments for mitigation, management, and control of fires. Visit FEMA’s website or call 1-800-621-FEMA for more information.

LA County Resources:
The Los Angeles County Emergency Incident Response website has been activated. This website provides a mapping tool and lists real-time evacuation, shelter, and other information/resources related to the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin, and Hurst wildfires.

City of LA Resources:
The City of LA offers a comprehensive list of emergency preparedness and response resources. You can view those resources here. 

Water and Power Outages:
Southern California Edison: Report outages here or call 800-611-1911.
Department of Water & Power: Report outages here or call 800-342-5397. Please conserve water during firefighting efforts and boil water for consumption due to potential contamination from ash. LAUSD Impacts:
For a list of all school closures and or relocations, please click here. Affected schools are directly communicating with families. For updates, visit lausd.org. A Family Hotline is available at 213-443-1300.

Social Media Resources:
Follow these accounts for updates:
LA County Public Safety Partners:
Office of Emergency Management: @ReadyLACounty
LA County Fire: @LACoFDPIO

City of LA Public Safety Partners:
LA City Emergency Management Department: @ReadyLA
Los Angeles Fire Department: @LAFD

Airbnb Support for Those Affected by Wildfires:
Airbnb, in collaboration with 211 LA, is offering free temporary housing for residents displaced or forced to evacuate due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. 
 

Important Details:

A limited number of credits are available for Airbnb stays.
Complete the form below to receive notifications on availability.
Evacuation zones will be verified before distributing credits.
Spaces are limited, and completing the form does not guarantee a stay. 

Eligibility Requirements:
You must have been displaced from your physical home due to the recent fires.
You must currently reside in an evacuation zone.
You must have an active Airbnb account or be able to create one.
You must be 18 years of age or older. 

Those eligible can apply for this free temporary housing here.

Additional Resources:
Safe Clean-Up After a Fire
Mental Health and Stress after an Emergency
Air Quality Monitoring 

We are here to support our union families during this challenging time. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the intake forms, please let us know. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 
Together, we can help our members rebuild and recover.

In Unity, Norma López,
Executive Director
Labor Community Services 

Yvonne Wheeler,
President
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor CLICK HERE
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