Support Harm Reductionists Impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires

Jan 15, 2025

Dear friends,

Our hearts are heavy given the devastation of wildfires that erupted in the Los Angeles (L.A.) region on January 7, which are still uncontained and ravaging the region — impacting unhoused and marginalized communities in drastic ways. Harm reduction communities need our support to provide their participants with immediate, life-saving relief and sustain rebuilding efforts that will continue long after the next several weeks.

Powerful Santa Ana winds, combined with one of the driest seasons in a century stemming from climate change, whipped up fires around Pasadena, Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods of L.A., forcing 180,000 residents under evacuation orders. Air quality and exposure to wildfire smoke has reached hazardous levels in several L.A. and Pasadena neighborhoods. These conditions have a massive impact far beyond the immediate danger zone, in an area with a very large number of unhoused and marginalized communities, largely Black and brown, which our harm reduction program partners serve. The largest homeless population in California is found in L.A. County, which accounts for over half of the state's total homeless population. A total of 76.2% of all unhoused folks are Latine/x, Black and Native.

We are including a list of vetted support efforts our harm reduction partners are working on in these areas, including supplies needed and ways to donate money for both immediate relief and rebuilding work. While this is not an extensive compilation, it aims to uplift the needs of those most impacted by the wildfires with information we have as of publication time.

We send all our love to our communities reeling as a result of this new tragedy, caused by intensifying climate change, increased homelessness, and misguided funding priorities. As harm reductionists, we will continue embodying and showing how the movement is committed to working with and for those most impacted by intersecting injustices. As always, we will continue to navigate through these deeply challenging times — together.

In love and solidarity,

Laura Guzman

Executive Director

National Harm Reduction Coalition

Organizations requesting support and funds in the L.A. region

Our harm reduction partners are in need of the following supplies: Water (most requested item), personal protective equipment (PPE), oxygen supplies, tents, tarps, sandbags, gift cards for ride shares and home improvement stores, blankets, cots, hygiene supplies, batteries, flashlights/lanterns, socks, disposable utensils, non-perishable or hot food delivery, hot chocolate/coffee/tea, wound care tools, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, respirators, air mattresses, pet food and crates, leashes/collars, gas cards, and hotel vouchers. If you are close to the area and/or need more specific information about sending off and/or delivering supplies, please reach out to the contacts listed below.

Cash donations are equally important, so we are including the organization’s respective donation links. Please specify in your donation that it is for the purpose of supporting unhoused participants/clients impacted by the L.A. wildfires.

L.A. County

AADAP Health Intervention Program (Inglewood)

Contact: treynolds@aadapinc.org
aadapinc.org/ways-to-give/

*Highly impacted with active response

Being Alive Harm Reduction Program

givebutter.com/BA_Annual_Fund

Bienestar Harm Reduction Center (East L.A., Long Beach and Pomona)

Contact: ejalayer@bienestar.org
bienestar.org/donate/

*Highly impacted with active response

Los Angeles Community Health Project

chpla.org/donate

Communidad en Outreach for Resiliency and Awareness (CORA) (Lincoln Heights, Highland Park South, East Downtown, Pico Union, El Monte, Boyle Heights)