Rebuilding Lives: Job Support for Fire Survivors

Published: February 27, 2025

New beginnings are a journey, and we’re here to walk it with the LA firestorm survivors. In partnership with local resources, we are helping to deliver temporary jobs for humanitarian assistance and cleanup efforts while strengthening services to return affected workers to long-term, meaningful jobs as soon as possible.

We’ve awarded up to $20 million to the Los Angeles region to support the immediate needs of workers suffering job losses or reduced hours in the aftermath of devastating firestorms with temporary employment. The funding also provides the kind of support needed for long-term recovery and more permanent reemployment.

The Los Angeles region will receive up to $10 million that will be coordinated by Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles to support humanitarian aid and cleanup efforts by creating temporary jobs in impacted areas. These jobs will address urgent needs such as debris removal, shelter operations, and community health support—providing critical opportunities for impacted communities to recover and rebuild.

In addition, another $10 million is awarded to the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity to address the specific needs of workers in collaboration with several of the region’s local workforce development boards. These funds will enable displaced workers to access transitional jobs, on-the-job training, and other workforce services that support long-term recovery and meaningful careers in the Los Angeles region. Program participants may also receive additional help with other needs as the recovery continues including housing, childcare, transportation, computer training, skill upgrades, and other supportive services, depending on the specific offerings in each local area.

The combined funding reflects a robust partnership between local, state, and federal agencies to quickly address the urgent impacts of the disaster, which have affected thousands of residents and businesses.

How to Get Support

Individuals and businesses impacted by the disaster can access these services through their local America’s Job Center of California locations.

Visit California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) News for the current locations and hours of operation for Disaster Recovery Centers to receive in-person help from EDD representatives along with other state and local partners.

To learn more about active emergencies, visit ready.ca.gov.

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