Worker and Family Fire Recovery Center Opens at Sylmar’s Mission College

Worker and Family Fire Recovery Center Opens at Sylmar’s Mission College

Credit The San Fernando Valley Sun

by Semantha Raquel Norris, San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol

February 19, 2025

A new recovery center where survivors of January’s wildfires can receive assistance for employment, family and business needs, has opened at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar. 

A fire recovery center opened at LA Mission College, offering services to workers, small businesses and families affected by the fires, Feb. 19. (SFVS/el Sol Photo/Semantha Raquel Norris)

The location is one of four Impacted Worker and Family Recovery Centers across the city and is the only one in the valley. 

“We’re getting individuals from Panorama, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, Sylmar, who’ve worked in the Palisades in one one way or another, who’ve lost all employment, coming down here to apply for relief,” said Eduardo Garcia, program manager at the North East San Fernando Valley/Pacoima Work Source Center at LA Mission College. 

The wildfire relief fund provides up to $20,000 to small businesses and $2,000 to workers impacted by the fires. 

“This will include those that cannot necessarily get EDD benefits,” said Garcia about the worker fund. “This is money that nannies, gardeners, house attendants, manual laborers, etc., can access.” 

The centers also provide job placement and training, financial advice and can refer visitors to other support services. 

Visitors can get help finding emergency shelter and rental assistance, filing taxes, claiming up to $10K in tax credits and referrals to immigration services. Residents can also find educational and mental health resources, as well as learn about available after-school programs.

The Mayor’s Fund for LA will provide case workers who will provide personalized assistance and help Angelenos use the organization’s Relief Navigator, an online tool that can help curate a disaster action plan. The navigator can connect individuals with government programs, insurance assistance, home damage remediation and other resources.

“The fires destroyed the workplaces of thousands of gardeners, restaurant workers, house cleaners, childcare workers and more,” said Mayor Karen Bass in a statement. “As we rebuild our neighborhoods, we are also going to do everything we can to make sure every family who was impacted can rebuild their lives.”

The fire relief center at LA Mission College has been in operation for two weeks and has served nine individuals with applications. Garcia said some have expressed fear and concerns about coming forward to receive assistance because of their immigration status. 

“They’re afraid to ask for assistance because it would look like a ‘stain on their record,’ or they feel like immigration will be waiting for them,” said Garcia. 

He emphasized that this is a safe place for everyone, adding that employees have been trained in how to deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will not release any information to immigration enforcement or the federal government. 

Garcia encouraged those impacted by the fires to seek assistance, regardless of their immigration status. 

The Impacted Worker and Family Recovery Centers are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

– 5446 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City
– 13356 Eldridge Ave. in Sylmar (MAP)
– 4305 Degnan Blvd. in west LA
– 2130 First St. in East LA

CNS contributed to this article. 

Credit The San Fernando Valley Sun

by Semantha Raquel Norris, San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol