The Los Angeles County Office of Consumer and Business Affairs provided a total of $31.7 million in grants to 3,425 households most impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
More than 9,600 individuals received grants that ranged from $6,000 to $18,000 to help with immediate relief before longer term aid was available.
“This wasn’t a full solution, but it was the support we could offer in a moment of real urgency,” Rafael Carbajal, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, said in a statement. “It was a first step that helped survivors take their next one.”
More than 51% of grant recipients reported the loss of equipment or tools, 43% had children in their household, 19% had no access to alternative housing and more than 21% lost their primary mode of transportation, according to the county.
The grants were funded by a $28 million allocation from the Board of Supervisors, $2.5 million from FireAid and additional donations.
“This was one of the very first grant programs established after the January wildfires, and the dollars went directly to impacted households,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “These funds made a tangible difference for families facing unimaginable loss and gave them critical support at a time when every bit of help mattered.”
For more information, visit dcba.lacounty.gov.