L.A. County Launches Pilot Program to Support Wildfire-Impacted Homeowners in Need of Soil Remediation
New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program Aims to Safeguard Community Health and Restore Property Safety
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) have launched the New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program (New Roots) to help address lead soil contamination in wildfire‑impacted properties. A total of $1 million has been allocated from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Climate Equity Account to support soil testing, remediation efforts, and program administration. Applications will be accepted from 12 p.m. on October 21, 2026, through 12 p.m. on November 25, 2026.
New Roots serves eligible homeowners in Altadena and the unincorporated areas of Pasadena by providing soil testing and lead‑remediation services to mitigate contamination. Designed with a community‑focused approach, the science-based initiative aims to safeguard public health, restore safe living environments, and strengthen long‑term neighborhood resilience. Each homeowner may receive up to $60,000 in bare‑soil remediation, with a target of remediating approximately 20 properties. Homeowners must certify that the property has been their primary residence since January 7, 2025.
Applicants must provide proof of primary residence through a property tax bill, utility bill, and a government‑issued photo ID. The home must be habitable and owner-occupied at the time of application. Once submitted, applications will be evaluated and homes selected based on detected lead levels in the property’s bare soil and according to the following methodology:
- Households with a pregnant household member.
- Households with children under the age of six.
- Households with children under the age of six that regularly visit the home.
- Households with a member with elevated lead levels in their blood.
- Households with children six through 17 years old.
- Households with an elderly person or a person with disabilities.
Applicants will be notified upon review and may be asked to provide additional documentation.
As a pilot, New Roots aims to ensure that the County is addressing the issues of testing soil and remediation, which is part of a much larger effort to address remediation for the larger portion of the impacted area. Future funding opportunities are being explored to expand assistance to additional eligible homeowners, such as through the federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding. One of the eligible uses of CDBG-DR is to rebuild and repair housing and infrastructure. While currently there is no funding available, Congress is actively considering appropriating funds for the largest disasters in 2025 and 2026, including the Eaton Fire.
“Eaton Fire survivors have been through so much–they deserve every bit of support, now,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “New Roots is another step towards bringing them some relief. I will continue doing everything the County can do to support these families while we urge Congress to appropriate the federal disaster recovery funding our community needs. Until that help arrives, my commitment to every survivor of this fire will not waver.”
LACDA Executive Director Emilio Salas said, “The needs of homeowners in fire affected communities are complex and evolve as families enter new phases of recovery. We are eager to lend a hand in ensuring families are able to remain in their home safely as they clear the way to new beginnings. We acknowledge that this pilot is a small step, but we are hopeful that we will be able to augment the assistance by working with our Federal partners.”
To check a property’s eligibility, get more information, or apply for the New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program, please visit newroots.lacda.org, call (626) 568-1727, or email newroots@lacda.org.
All media may contact Elisa Vásquez, LACDA Public Information Officer, at (626) 586-1762.
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