Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Fire-Displaced Altadena Church to Convene Rebuilding Funders in Pasadena Sunday

Lift International Church, the Altadena congregation that lost its building in the Eaton Fire, plans to gather funders, gap-assistance grants and legal help in Pasadena on Sunday for households whose rebuilds have not started.

Organizers said four funding entities are expected on site to work with at least 200 underinsured homeowners, and that more than 160 families supported by the church during the past 19 months have been invited. Recent assessments put the number of parcels without rebuilding applications on file at approximately 2,222, organizers said.

The initiative, called Come Back Home, is built to clear financial, administrative and technical obstacles to rebuilding, organizers said. Partners will also launch a centralized platform connecting survivors with state and municipal resources and grants.

The event offers disaster recovery funding allocated for more than 100 residences, gap assistance grants, legal filing deadline advisories and consultations, pro bono referrals through the Altadena CDC’s ALLY platform, and recovery updates from the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, organizers said. Partners include Samaritan’s Purse, Hope Crisis Response Network, Mennonite Disaster Service, HPP Cares and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.

A separate press conference will address coalition recovery and advocacy. Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, is scheduled to highlight legislative achievements protecting wildfire survivors, including utility accountability, organizers said. Coalition representatives will state a neutral position on Senate Bill 492, which died without a vote on the session’s final day.

Pastor Anthony McFarland, who lost his Altadena Drive home in the fire, will co-host.

If you go: the Come Back Home press conference and community gathering takes place Sunday, September 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more, call LIFT International at (626) 797-6056 or visit liftaltadena.org.