Monday, December 22, 2025

Guest Opinion | Chris Holden: Edison Must Advance Housing Relief and Agree to Fair Mediation

Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes across the San Gabriel Valley, a historic coalition has demanded that Southern California Edison keep families housed until they can get back home. The Eaton Fire Action Network’s proposal addresses the immediate crisis facing families who are running out of financial options.

The solution is straightforward: Edison must front up to $200,000 per displaced household in temporary housing relief based on verified costs, provided without legal waivers.

The Crisis Is Immediate

Edison’s fire doubled or tripled local rents, pushing costs from roughly $1,800 a month to $4,000–$6,000 or more. Insurance meant to cover the loss of use of someone’s home that is supposed to last years is depleting in months. According to the Eaton Fire Collaborative Housing Impact Survey, 72% of renters still need housing, yet 78% cannot afford current rents. Families face eviction or homelessness long before recovery is possible.

Meanwhile, Edison reports record profits. In October, regulators approved a rate increase generating nearly $1 billion annually, plus roughly $1 billion in retroactive payments. Edison then reported $832 million in quarterly profit—a $316 million increase over the previous year. Ratepayers, including fire survivors, fund Edison’s profits, while the company is making its victims give up their valuable legal rights if they want to get a low-ball settlement via Edison’s Compensation program.

Edison Must Act Now

Edison has more than $4 billion in credit and $364 million in cash. Yet Edison requires its victims to give up valuable legal rights to get short-term resources that can be used to help keep them housed.

This is coercion. Independent analysis shows the compensation program shortchanges renters, undervalues smoke-damaged homes, and deducts insurance payments families haven’t received.

Housing Relief Must Be Separate from Mediation

Urgent housing relief alone is not enough. Edison must also agree to comprehensive mediation.

Unlike Edison’s unilateral program, mediation allows both parties to be represented. Victims have attorneys who understand true damages. The “take-it-or-leave-it” dynamic is replaced by negotiation between equals with a neutral facilitator.

In mediation, claims are heard, not processed by algorithms. Each family’s trauma can be articulated. Each property’s worth can be proven. Mediation has successfully resolved wildfire claims because it respects victims’ dignity and allows for equitable outcomes.

The Legal Framework Exists

The reason why I worked so hard to establish The California Wildfire Fund in 2019 was to provide immediate liquidity so families wouldn’t wait years for compensation. Edison must front urgent housing assistance now. This separates humanitarian relief from legal settlements, ensuring families stay housed while preserving their right to pursue full compensation through mediation.

Without action, families are being forced from the San Gabriel Valley permanently. Los Angeles has not received the federal housing funds that historically supported rebuilding.

As Senator Sasha Renée Pérez said, “There should be no strings attached to providing much-needed emergency housing to Eaton Fire survivors who are still displaced and suffering trauma. Emergency housing relief must be kept entirely separate from any settlement process. Survivors should never be forced to choose between having a safe place to live and preserving their legal rights.”

The Path Forward

Mr. Pizarro, the victims of the Eaton Fire need two things from Edison: immediate housing relief to prevent mass displacement, and fair mediation to reach equitable resolutions.

Stop the PR stunts. Stop tying housing assistance to legal waivers. Edison has the financial capacity to act now.

Front the urgent housing relief families need to stay housed. Then meet us at the mediation table where our lawyers can talk to your lawyers as equals, with proper representation and a neutral facilitator.

The tools exist. The funding exists. Only your decision is missing. We urge Edison to act now and provide families the financial support they urgently need.

By Chris Holden, CEO, LA Fire Justice, former California State Assemblymember, and former Mayor of Pasadena.