Pictured above – Rosa and family visiting the site of their future home and ADU
Altadena has always been a safe haven for Rosa, a place where people embrace one another and celebrate their differences. As a single parent, she raised her two daughters in this close-knit community, building a life and a name for herself in a place filled with meaningful milestones.
“This was the perfect home,” Rosa said. “It was small, but it was something I could maintain on my own.”
In that home, Rosa watched all three of her grandchildren take their first steps. After retiring, she discovered a passion for gardening and found joy in the simple moments, hearing the famous San Gabriel Valley parrots squawk and learning how to call the neighborhood peacocks so they now come right up to her. In Altadena, everyone, people, nature, and animals, belonged. Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, Rosa found her peace.
“I’m surrounded by the most wonderful community, and I just love my mountains,” she shared.
Then everything changed, January 7th, the night the Eaton Fire struck her beloved community. As strong winds carried thick smoke through the air, Rosa knew this was no ordinary fire. It was something she could never have imagined. The days following the fires, a neighbor alerted her that everything they owned had been lost to the fire.
“I felt a deep sense of hopelessness when it happened,” she said. “This place turned into a warzone, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Pictured above, Rosa’s daughter and granddaughter visiting the site of their future home.
In the aftermath, Rosa often returned to her neighborhood to meditate, pray, and spend quiet moments reflecting. During these visits, she reconnected with neighbors who were also grieving their losses. Together, they leaned on one another, sharing the weight of what had happened. Despite the devastation, something meaningful emerged; the community grew closer, and neighbors began to feel like family.
Today, Rosa looks toward the future with hope. With support from SGV Habitat, she believes her family will rebuild stronger and more resilient than before.
“We will reclaim what we have lost and grow from this to become a stronger community,” she said.
When Rosa connected with SGV Habitat, her sense of hopelessness began to transform into hope and renewed excitement for the future. Inspired by her experience, she shared the news with her next-door neighbors, and now, SGV Habitat is helping rebuild their home as well.
Rosa is deeply grateful for the volunteers who have traveled from near and far to support her family, bringing them one closer to regaining stability again.
“It’s amazing to see people willing to build someone else’s home,” Rosa said. “I know they’re doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.”