Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Supervisors Fund ADU Grants for Altadena Fire Survivors

The $3.8 million program will help 35 to 50 homeowners build backyard homes on Eaton Fire-impacted lots — a fraction of the more than 9,000 structures destroyed

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved $3.8 million in state grant funding to help homeowners in the Eaton Fire burn zone build accessory dwelling units on their properties, giving a limited number of Altadena households a new tool for recovery more than 14 months after the fire leveled their community.

The program will provide direct grants to between 35 and 50 qualifying homeowners in unincorporated areas, with priority given to properties within the Eaton Fire perimeter, according to a statement from Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office.

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity will serve as the implementing partner. 

The money comes from the state’s Regional Early Action Planning 2.0 grant program and requires no county taxpayer funding, according to Barger’s statement. It will cover both homeowner grants and limited administrative costs.

“Eaton Fire survivors deserve support that helps them rebuild their lives,” Barger said in the statement. “This program will provide direct financial assistance so homeowners can add safe, affordable housing on their property.”

ADUs — small homes built on existing residential lots, often called granny flats or backyard homes — have become an increasingly common approach to expanding California’s housing supply. Barger, who represents the 5th Supervisorial District, which includes both Altadena and Pasadena, said the units can serve multiple purposes for fire survivors.

“ADUs can help house displaced family members, provide rental income to offset rebuilding costs and offer long-term stability,” she said.

The program carries specific requirements. The ADUs must be used as housing and kept affordable for middle-income households — those earning no more than 120% of the area median income — for at least 10 years, according to county officials. Construction must begin or be completed by the end of 2030.

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, the Monrovia-based nonprofit that will carry out the program, has experience building ADUs across the San Gabriel Valley. The organization, founded in 1990, has been involved in Eaton Fire rebuilding efforts in Altadena and previously demonstrated it could construct an ADU in as few as 10 days during a 2024 project in Baldwin Park.

Eligibility requirements and application timelines have not yet been released. Details are expected in the coming months, according to Barger’s office.

The board’s action is the latest in a series of fire recovery measures taken by the county. In June 2025, supervisors waived permit fees for qualifying homeowners rebuilding in unincorporated areas after the Eaton and Palisades fires. In February 2026, the board approved a Barger motion to expand temporary housing options for displaced residents.

Recovery in Altadena has been slow. As of late 2025, only 23 residential properties out of nearly 6,000 that suffered significant damage had completed all rebuilding and repairs, according to a report by Catalyst California. The county’s Department of Public Works had issued 829 building permits in fire-affected unincorporated areas by that time.

“I fully support this meaningful investment that will help keep families in their community,” Barger said.