Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger on Friday unveiled a new collaboration between The Foothill Catalog Foundation and San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity—an initiative aimed at expediting and easing the home rebuilding process for families impacted by the Eaton Fire.
The partnership pairs The Foothill Catalog Foundation’s collection of pre-approved home designs—which is being scaled to up to 100 designs by a partnership with Autodesk—with Habitat for Humanity’s commitment to construct homes for qualifying fire survivors. One of the first homes to be built through this initiative will rise on the very lot where the press conference took place.
Barger commented on the significance of this partnership. “This effort represents the very best of what can happen when public, private, and nonprofit sectors unite behind a common purpose,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “That purpose is a lot bigger than simply rebuilding houses. Altadena’s recovery is about restoring the sense of belonging and hope for a community that has endured unimaginable loss–and that is on full display today.”
Alex Athenson, President of The Foothill Catalog Foundation, highlighted the purpose behind the design effort. “Our mission has always been about preserving the heart and soul of Altadena while creating practical, permit-ready, and regionally sensitive designs that reduce costs and time for families eager to return,” Athenson said. “These are not just blueprints—they are tools for healing, rooted in community character and compassion.”
Bryan Wong, CEO of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, emphasized the organization’s readiness to meet the moment. “When disaster strikes, so many families are left with uncertainty,” Wong stated. “Our partnership with the Foothill Catalog allows us to remove those uncertainties—by pairing beautiful, approved designs with real action on the ground. We have 25 families who have already applied for assistance. We’re honored to help families rebuild their lives, and we’re ready to get to work.”
Mr. Kenneth Wood, the 85-year-old Eaton Fire survivor whose property is the future home site said a few words. “At my age, I never thought I’d be starting over,” Wood remarked. “But today, standing on this land I’ve known for decades, I feel something I didn’t expect—hope.”
The press conference featured a scale model of Mr. Wood’s future home, a floorplan display, and renderings of several pre-approved designs from the Foothill Catalog Foundation and designed with Autodesk’s Design and Make platform—all illustrating the vision of a resilient, community-centered rebuild.
Through support from Los Angeles County’s Altadena One-Stop Permitting Center, the pre-approved plans offered by The Foothill Catalog Foundation allow for a simplified path through permitting. Combined with Habitat for Humanity’s proven ability to deliver quality, affordable homes, the effort provides a hopeful, practical roadmap for fire-impacted families to return and rebuild