After the catastrophic Los Angeles fires in January, over 300 young volunteers from AmeriCorps aided survivors in recovery efforts. Among them was Julian Nava-Cortez, who assisted in helping families navigate the challenging aftermath. These volunteers provided critical support to 47,000 affected households. However, in April, significant cuts from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency led to the abrupt suspension of the California Emergency Response Corps and other AmeriCorps programs, affecting 32,000 workers and halting essential recovery operations just as communities were beginning to heal.
"We were the first faces that they'd see," said Nava-Cortez, a 23-year-old member of the California Emergency Response Corps, helping survivors navigate recovery after devastating fires.
Volunteers like Nava-Cortez have helped 47,000 households affected by the fires, according to California Volunteers, the state service commission under the governor's office.
In April, AmeriCorps placed 85% of its 500 staff on leave and canceled nearly $400 million in grants, ending the service of an estimated 32,000 AmeriCorps workers.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has gutted the 30-year-old national service agency in a matter of weeks, impacting vital disaster recovery support.
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