With so many displaced by fires, Los Angeles County can’t accurately measure homelessness
Thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes in some of the most destructive wildfires in California history find themselves in fierce competition with one another for an affordable place to live in Los Angeles' post-disaster housing market.
The fires have killed at least 27 people as of Friday and destroyed more than 10,000 structures in the residential enclaves of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. In the wake of the fires, rents have surged and uncertainty over insurance settlements has left some of the displaced in limbo.
In interviews this week, Angelenos described the anguish of exile from beloved neighborhoods and the daunting task of figuring out what comes next for themselves and their families. Here are some of their stories:
'TOTALLY CRAZY' RENTAL MARKET
John Adolph, a 48-year-old video producer, and his wife, two small children and two dogs have been staying with friends since they fled their Altadena home a week ago. Their ranch-style home of six years near the Angeles National Forest was totally destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
"We thank God we're safe, but we don't know what's next," he said. "We both are lucky, our jobs are still here. I know people who have lost their livelihoods and have to start totally over. We're still employed."
Adolph and his wife, Christine, are lifelong Angelenos, and have no plans to move from the area permanently "unless it's done kicking and screaming," he said.
For now, the family was content to stay with friends, but knows it's a lot to ask long term. They were already looking at rental apartments.
"We have two kids and older dogs, we can't just bounce from hotel rooms to Airbnbs," he said. "We need something stable for the kids."
When they went to view a rental, there were already six families lined up ahead of them.
"It's totally crazy," Adolph said. "It's going in insane mode."
Even though his home was insured, he worries that surging construction costs and new insurance rates might price them out of their own neighborhood.
