Supervisor Barger Joins CORE and Partners to Break Ground on New Center for Long-Term Eaton Fire Recovery

Supervisor Kathryn Barger and partners break ground at the future site of The Center for Community in Altadena. (Photo credit: Brian Feinzimer/LA County)

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joined CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), Representative Judy Chu, Anthem, the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), and community partners this past Saturday to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Center for Community, a new long-term recovery hub in Altadena serving Eaton Fire survivors.

Built on County-owned land at 2231 Lincoln Avenue and designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, the 1,600-square-foot Center for Community will serve as a focal point for resilience, offering mental health services, educational workshops, and community programming as families continue rebuilding their lives.

“I am proud to support this important project,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “The establishment of a long-term case management service hub for Eaton Fire survivors marks a critical next step in Altadena’s recovery. This center will be especially important for West Altadena, providing a dedicated space on County-owned land for healing, resilience, and connection. Together, we are laying the foundation for a stronger community.”

The groundbreaking marked one year since the Eaton Fire and commemorated a year of intensive response and recovery efforts in Altadena, while signaling the next phase of long-term rebuilding.

“This past year has been defined by the toughness of Los Angeles County, but also by the reality that recovery does not end when the immediate crisis passes,” said Ann Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of CORE. “The Center for Community represents the next phase of recovery: a permanent, people-centered space where individuals can access support, rebuild stability, and reconnect. This moment is both a reflection of a renewed promise to stand with this community, with a holistic approach, for the long term. With the vast majority of homeowners still displaced, our commitment must deepen.”

The event featured remarks from key partners, including Les Ybarra, President of Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal Health Plan; Representative Judy Chu; Supervisor Kathryn Barger; and Emilio Salas, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority.

In the immediate aftermath of the Eaton Fire, CORE deployed an emergency response providing essential supplies such as N95 masks, hygiene kits, feminine products, power banks, and air filters, while also managing a child-friendly space at evacuation shelters. CORE partnered with Los Angeles County to support debris removal and launched Cash and Voucher Assistance, enabling affected families to address their most urgent needs. The organization has also helped survivors navigate FEMA, insurance claims, and rebuilding through its Disaster Case Management program.

The Center for Community groundbreaking follows the October opening of The Hub, CORE’s local resource center in Altadena that provides case management, referrals, and ongoing recovery support. Dedicated case managers assist residents with insurance, financing, planning, and design, while connecting families to legal, housing, and health resources.

To date, CORE has delivered more than $3 million in cash assistance to affected families and supported debris cleanup, housing navigation, and insurance assistance. With approximately 90% of homeowners still displaced, recovery efforts remain ongoing. CORE’s five-year recovery initiative is supported by valued partnerships including Anthem (more than $1 million in support), the California Community Foundation, Los Angeles County and its Development Authority, the SoCal Fire Fund, and generous private donors.

“Anthem took the lead with a multi-million-dollar commitment to aid communities in responding to and recovering from the devastating fires, emphasizing that recovery is crucial to health. Housing stability, financial security, and community connection are vital for wellbeing,” stated Les Ybarra, President CA Medicaid Health Plan at Anthem Blue Cross.

“I am deeply grateful to CORE for their extraordinary support in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire over the past year. I especially want to thank CORE’s co-founders, Sean Penn and Ann Lee, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the LA County Development Authority, for their leadership in making this Lincoln Lot groundbreaking possible. Over the past year, I’ve seen firsthand the impact CORE has made on our community’s recovery, distributing millions in cash assistance, providing tens of thousands of essential items, and overseeing critical debris removal and smoke remediation. CORE’s work has saved lives, and I am so grateful to have them as a partner in our recovery efforts,” said Representative Judy Chu.

“LACDA has been part of the West Altadena community since 1982. We are very excited to mobilize services on this County-owned property and continue to be part of building better lives and better neighborhoods in Altadena,” said Emilio Salas, Executive Director for LACDA.