The recent Eaton and Palisades fires have devastated communities in Southern California, displacing families, destroying homes, and creating uncertainty among renters. The Ramirez-Mejia family, displaced from their 12-year home in Altadena, exemplifies this experience, now living with relatives in Pacoima. With over half of Los Angeles County's population being renters, many are left at the mercy of landlords amidst a critical housing shortage, facing difficulties in rebuilding their lives and returning to their communities after such disasters.
"All of this was our home," Ramirez said on Jan. 21 while looking at the pile of debris left by the Eaton Fire. "It was perfect, and we loved it."
People who started January with a rent payment were forced to evacuate burning neighborhoods and now face an uncertain future.
There is little flexibility for renters such as the Ramirez family, who are dealing with the aftermath of the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Instead, they find themselves at the mercy of landlords and an unforgiving rental market - a precarious existence made worse by the disaster.
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