On January 7th, around 8:00 p.m., I noticed a large fire coming from the Aldi’s in Altadena. I immediately went back to the house because I could feel how close the fire already was. Shortly after that, evacuation orders began coming through, and we evacuated that night. The next day, January 8th, something told me […]
Sabrina’s First-Hand Account of Loss and Support Read More »
Antywon is a Pasadena native, someone well-known and deeply rooted in his community. When the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT) reached out to Friends In Deed’s Street Outreach and Housing team, they did so with care and urgency. They knew Antywon well. They knew his journey had been long and difficult. And they knew he
Building Stability: Antywon’s Journey Forward Read More »
In his early 20s, Jerry was already climbing the ranks in the restaurant industry. As a manager at a local Pasadena fast-food chain, he took pride in his work and the steady income it provided. When the Eaton Fire struck, his home was spared, but his livelihood suffered. With fewer customers dining out, the restaurant’s
From Setback to Stability: Jerry’s Journey Forward Read More »
When the Eaton Fire destroyed her home, Maya and her child were left with uncertainty and fear, but not without hope. Eligible for motel stays through Friends In Deed’s Rapid Rehousing and Pathways Program, Maya was determined to get back on her feet and into a permanent home. Maya had a Section 8 voucher and
Perseverance in Action: Maya’s Path Home Read More »
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, every story of loss carries weight, but it’s often the quieter ones that gently remind us of the deep importance of compassion and community. Ms. Harris is 80 years old. She lost her home to the blaze and had been staying at a motel and covering the cost
A Place to Breathe: Ms. Harris’ Story After the Fire Read More »
In the early hours of the morning, on Wednesday, January 8th, a simple yet extraordinary act of kindness unfolded during the Eaton Fire. Two clients, recently housed above Washington Boulevard through the hard work of Friends In Deed’s Street Outreach and Housing team, were awoken by an urgent knock on their door. Their landlord, a
Stories from the Fire: A Community That Cares Read More »
Stacey McCarroll, Director of Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance shares her story: I spent an afternoon with our EPRA volunteer, Emily, who lost her home in Altadena. She has been staying in a hotel in Glendale, very close to my home. I invited her to do a load of laundry (I borrowed the idea from
Stories from the Fire: Supporting One Another Through Loss Read More »
  An urgent call came through to the Street Outreach and Housing team from the Food Pantry. A deaf young man had come in, clearly needing help, but unable to communicate his needs. As it happened, two team members were out on the road and swung by the pantry. They began communicating with the
A Crisis Intervention Story – Finding Ways to Communicate Read More »
Lee had been in sober living for a year, but he timed out of the program without having found a place to live, and he ended up back on the streets, mostly living in his car in safe parking facilities. The Friends In Deed Street Outreach and Housing team became involved, and worked with Lee
Lee’s Story – Continuing Recovery Read More »
Dan has a PhD – and ADHD. He’s extremely intelligent, but many of the executive function tasks other people take for granted – paying bills, taking out the trash, cleaning the house – are often beyond him. In the second of our series of fictionalized accounts of the barriers people experience to getting housing, we’ll
Barriers to Housing – Dan’s Story Read More »
