Inmates from California’s prisoner firefighter program coil hose along a hillside on January 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press, Credit: Pacific Press Media Production Corp./Alamy Live News

How to Help the Communities Affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires

As the Los Angeles wildfires continue to impact lives, homes, and communities, here is how the L.A. design community is mobilizing, and how you can get involved.

In the wake of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles, the city’s design community has united to support those affected. From opening up their homes and offices to displaced individuals, to developing fundraisers, auctions, and resource-sharing Google Docs, those in the area are not only mobilizing to rebuild and prepare for future risks—they are experiencing the processing the effects of climate catastrophe in real time. While the future remains uncertain, the response underscores the strength and resilience of Los Angeles design community.  

Are you:

Affected by the wildfires and need help?

Not affected by the wildfires but want to help?

Affected by the Wildfires and Need Help?

Local architecture and design organizations and associations have acted rapidly to succor community members who have been affected by the fires. If you are a member of LA’s creative community and could use some support, here are some resources for you to turn to:

AIA Los Angeles: Wildfire Response and Resources 2025
AIA LA has constituted a task force and put together a comprehensive set of resources to help the local community stay up-to-date and find the help they need.
https://www.aialosangeles.org/news/news-and-blogs/wildfire-response-and-resources-2025/

AIA California: Receive Assistance for Architects Displaced by LA-Region Fires
If you are an architect who has been displaced due to the fires in the Los Angeles region and are in need of office space and/or financial support, AIA California is identifying individuals who may be able to help you with temporary office space as well as raising funds for financial assistance.
https://airtable.com/appo1em9pnEp7XKob/shr16jqZLpE1CG5fv

Airbnb.org: Temporary housing to people impacted by Los Angeles wildfires
To support residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires, Airbnb.org is working with 211 LA, which serves Los Angeles County, to offer free, temporary housing. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts — many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org.
https://care.211cs.org/public-survey/86c5adf88e2a29c103df24ba5f48cd3f6cf9a9171207a15954dbb8b9649429f0

LA CAN DO: Essential furnishings for displaced individuals
LA CAN DO provides essential furnishings to displaced individuals so they may recover with comfort, warmth, and dignity.
https://www.lacando.org/

The Expert: Rebuild Hotline
The Expert has launched a Rebuild Hotline offering free one-hour video calls with interior designers to those who have lost their homes.
https://www.theexpert.com/rebuild-hotline?srsltid=AfmBOopgrIJqTCG1rVMNub3QnXLLf0Gyad8VJk9chI4pDSvBwMX2XVIm&sscid=11k9_jacjr&

Not Affected by the Wildfires But Want to Help?

This is the time for the broader design community to come together and support our peers in the Los Angeles area as they recover from disastrous loss and impacts on their lives. Below are some resources that are specifically directed towards the design community. Large organizations like the American Red CrossPasadena Humane SocietyHabitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, and the L.A. Food Bank are also accepting donations and funds, if you would prefer to support the community through their efforts.

California Architectural Foundation: Support AIA Members and Firms
The Los Angeles fires have profoundly affected our architectural community, with many members and firms facing significant challenges. Your donation will provide direct support to AIA members, firms and communities in need, helping them recover, rebuild, and navigate this difficult time.
https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/california-architectural-foundation/la_fire_donations 

Quintus: Support Designers and Architects Affected by LA Fires
The purpose of this fund is to give the worldwide design community an avenue for giving funds that will directly benefit interior designers and architects that have lost their homes or studios. Quintus will be collecting names of individuals and firms impacted and then will distribute the funds directly to the interior designers and architects on our list.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-designers-and-architects-affected-by-la-fires

AIA LA: Wildfire Response Volunteer Form
AIA Los Angeles is seeking volunteers for the myriad tasks that lie ahead—from short-term disaster recovery assessments to long-term building code reform and resilience planning.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0GCDaBWuhCx2vrcEmgyHagBzZ4cnWCPDjc9DRdy36UUqsSw/viewform

Design for LA: A free directory for service providers
If you are an architect, designer, landscape architect, interior designer, engineer, or contractor willing and able to provide services to those impacted by the fires in LA county please join this list via the google form. The list will be verified by the A/E community to provide the best resources to homeowners trying to rebuild. Design for LA is creating a free directory for people to find collaborators to rebuild, repair, or replace their home or business.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcHb9fwUpQoQvyfxPq-CIv1yw6zkh8D76T-E8RgdS8n4iLSA/viewform

LA CAN DO: Essential furnishings for displaced individuals
LA CAN DO is accepting donations of essential furnishings so that displaced individuals may recover with comfort, warmth, and dignity.
https://www.lacando.org/

Guy Horton: GoFundMe
Researcher, strategist, design journalist, and longtime METROPOLIS contributor Guy Horton and his family are raising funds to establish a new home after losing everything in the Palisades fire
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-guy-horton-and-family-start-over-after-fire

Nancy Keatinge and Stanley Felderman: GoFundMe
Daughter Sara Felderman has set up this fund to help the architecture and design icons after being displaced by the Palisades fire.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-nancy-stanley-after-palisades-fire

Rachel Davies: GoFundMe Master List
This list was compiled by Rachel Davies, the writer of the newsletter Personal Space. A team of volunteers has been helping to keep it up to date and vetting each submission before uploading it.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yrj9W2UyN49hhRICdE8IKrsn_JlwYhi_gLma7uP6LQE/edit?gid=115960970#gid=115960970

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