On Friday, November 7, UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI) staff and fellows volunteered with the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity in Altadena, contributing to the first home being rebuilt through the organization’s Eaton Fire recovery efforts.

Since the wildfire in January 2025, Habitat for Humanity has been working closely with homeowners to rebuild lives and restore a sense of community. The first home now under construction belongs to the Wood family—three generations of parents, children, and grandchildren who lost three homes in Altadena, when the fire tore through Pine and Palm Streets. Construction began in October, with hopes of welcoming the Wood family back before the holidays in December 2025.

In support of these efforts, 11 LPPI team members joined a volunteer build day for  the Wood family. In the months since the fire, neighbors, friends, and organizations like Habitat for Humanity have come together to ensure that Altadena’s recovery is also about restoring the community that calls this place home.

“It’s one thing to study recovery through data, and another to be part of it,” said Gabriella Carmona, LPPI senior research analyst and co-author of a recent LPPI data brief highlighting troubling racial and ethnic disparities in how homeowners are recovering in Altadena’s rebuilding efforts. “Our research has shown how many families face long waits and limited resources after disasters. Being here today reminds us why targeting resources for those most in need matters and how collective efforts are needed to ensure an equitable recovery.”

Through research and action, LPPI continues to highlight the need for equitable rebuilding and support for communities most impacted by climate-driven disasters. Volunteering alongside Habitat for Humanity offered staff and fellows the opportunity to connect that data to lived experience—and to contribute, even in a small way, to helping a family return home.