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Today marks four months since the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena and surrounding foothill communities. As residents continue to recover and rebuild, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger is reaffirming her commitment to supporting survivors \u2014 not only through policy reforms that speed up the recovery process, but also by ensuring access to vital mental health resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cFour months later, our residents are still facing tremendous pressure,\u201d said\u00a0Supervisor Kathryn Barger<\/strong>. \u201cThe financial burdens of rebuilding, combined with the emotional toll of losing homes and memories, have created a stressful and uncertain environment. One of my top priorities is to make sure the County is doing everything possible to lift those burdens and walk alongside my constituents during their recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n To address the bureaucratic obstacles many fire survivors have encountered, Supervisor Barger has led several major initiatives. She recently introduced and passed a\u00a0motion to establish a Unified Permitting Authority<\/a>\u00a0to streamline and centralize all permitting efforts related to fire recovery. This new framework is designed to improve coordination and cut down on delays and create accountability to one entity for all of the County Departments involved in the process.<\/p>\n Recognizing the need for innovation, Supervisor Barger also partnered with\u00a0Governor Newsom and the State of California to integrate artificial intelligence into the permitting process<\/a>. Through a partnership with philanthropic organizations, an AI solution is being provided at no cost to local governments and users, enabling faster and more accurate plan reviews.<\/p>\n In addition, this week Supervisor Barger successfully introduced a\u00a0motion<\/a>\u00a0directing Los Angeles County departments to implement a\u00a0self-certification process<\/a>\u00a0for single-family rebuilding projects. This process\u2014which will be implemented at the County\u2019s\u00a0One Stop Recovery Permit Center in Altadena<\/a>\u00a0in the coming days\u2014allows qualified professionals to expedite plan approvals, helping families begin construction more quickly.<\/p>\n The\u00a0motion<\/a>\u00a0further directs the County\u2019s Chief Executive Officer, in light of the aforementioned initiatives, to significantly streamline County processes and to reduce staff time required to process permits. A report back to the Board of Supervisors is due in 30 days with a plan to partially or fully offset permit fees for rebuilds.<\/p>\n \u201cThese actions are about removing red tape and giving people back control over their lives,\u201d\u00a0Supervisor Barger\u00a0<\/strong>said. \u201cRecovery should not be held hostage by processes that were not designed to handle the avalanche of permit approvals unleashed by Eaton Fire rebuilding needs. I\u2019m committed to cutting through bureaucracy and replacing it with action.\u201d<\/p>\n Supervisor Barger also acknowledges that the challenges of recovery go far beyond permits and planning, emphasizing the importance of mental health and emotional well-being during this difficult time.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health<\/a>\u00a0(DMH) continues to offer round-the-clock multilingual support and referrals for services including crisis intervention, grief counseling, and long-term mental health support. Fire survivors can access the DMH Help Line at 1-800-854-7771.<\/p>\nPicking Up the Rebuilding Pace<\/h1>\n
Help Easing Wildfire Survivors’ Mental Health Impacts<\/h1>\n