Altadena became the proving ground for a new recovery model in Los Angeles County. In just 34 days from permit approval to installation, Steadfast LA and modular housing company Samara delivered the first permanent wildfire recovery home to the Rodriguez family, marking one of the fastest post fire housing installations in county history.
As part of that coordinated effort, nine Samara modular homes through Steadfast LA recovery initiative will go to nine families, eight in Altadena and one in Pacific Palisades. On installation day, the process unfolds with remarkable speed. After the foundation is prepared, the home arrives in three modular sections, is placed and secured within approximately eight hours, fully connected mechanically, structurally stabilized, and weather sealed, allowing families to step into a permanent, code compliant home.
In the middle of policy, permitting, and construction timelines, Caruso said the heart of the work remains deeply personal.
“One of the most meaningful moments of my career is picking up the phone and calling a family to tell them they have a home,” Caruso said, who attended alongside his two sons. “To be able to say, on behalf of Steadfast LA and the Caruso family, that you no longer have to worry about where you are going to live, that your children will sleep in their own beds again, that you can stay in the community you love; that is the kind of work that stays with you forever.”
For Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the moment represented more than a ribbon cutting. It reflected her broader vision to remove bureaucratic barriers, accelerate permitting, and rebuild communities as complete ecosystems, not just collections of homes.
“This is what public service is supposed to look like,” Barger said. “We are laser focused on lifting hurdles, creating pathways for families to return home, and making sure infrastructure, parks, utilities, and neighborhoods rise together. Recovery is not just about structures, it is about restoring stability, dignity, and community.”
The home installation also marked the first major public initiative led by Rick Caruso following his announcement that he would not pursue elected office. Instead, Caruso has doubled down on private sector leadership through Steadfast LA, the nonprofit he chairs that was created to accelerate wildfire recovery through public private partnerships.
“This is what the private sector can do when we act with urgency and purpose,” Caruso said. “The real tragedy is not the fire itself, it is allowing families to remain displaced. Our mission is simple; get people home.”
The modular home installed Thursday is 950-square-feet, permanently affixed, engineered to last more than 100 years, and fully equipped with energy efficient systems, modern insulation, and fire resistant materials. From foundation to fencing, garage to utilities, the entire home was gifted at no cost to the Rodriguez family, representing an investment valued between $500,000 and $600,000.
For Samara Co-founder and CEO Mike McNamara, the project reflects a vision years in the making. Originally founded as a research lab in 2016 exploring the future of housing, Samara formally launched in 2022 and has since grown to more than 250 employees designing homes built specifically for California’s climate, regulations, and rebuilding needs.
“When the fires happened and more than 16,000 homes were lost, we asked ourselves how we could be of service,” McNamara said. “It is one thing to build beautiful homes. It is another to bring families back to the communities they love. That is the impact that matters.”
Samara’s model allows homes to be built off site while permits are processed, dramatically compressing rebuild timelines. The Altadena installation arrived in three modular sections and was placed on the foundation within hours. Mechanical systems were operational the same day.
The long term goal is to repeat this model across fire impacted communities, particularly for families rebuilding homes under 1,000-square-feet, where modular housing can move fastest through permitting channels.
“This first home sets the standard,” McNamara said. “Planners now understand our process. Our hope is that future installations move even faster, giving families back months of their lives.”
That speed is possible because of Steadfast LA’s on the ground coordination. Working with county agencies, nonprofit partners, and financial sponsors including HomeAid OCLA, loanDepot, and Armanino, Steadfast LA created a vetting and delivery pipeline designed to ensure that 100 percent of donated funds go directly to families with no administrative leakage.
“This partnership works because everyone is focused on execution,” McNamara said. “Steadfast knows the community. Rick has built organizations that get things done. Together we created a structure that delivers real outcomes.”
For Supervisor Barger, the collaboration reflects a necessary shift in disaster recovery.
“Government cannot do this alone,” she said. “Our role is to remove friction, expedite permits, waive fees where possible, and support partners who can move quickly. Families who have lived on these properties for generations should not be punished by process.”
Supervisor's Director of Altadena Recovery Anish Saraiya shared, "One of the greatest moments is seeing families find their forever home and getting back to community and Supervisor is laser focused on lifting all hurdles to create pathways for families to return home. Community recovery isn’t just homes, it's parks, infrastructure," said Saraiya, adding that around 600 homes are under construction, 8 homes with certificates of occupancy, and over 1,300 permits approved and issued. Her office has created a dedicated Altadena Recovery team to coordinate rebuilding, infrastructure upgrades, and community stabilization.
The emotional center of Thursday’s installation belonged to the Rodriguez family.
Rosalina Rodriguez, 71, who raised her family in the neighborhood, watched as the home that once stood on her property was replaced by a modern, resilient structure. Her daughter Beverly Rodriguez, an engineering educator and community mentor, described the moment as “Christmas arriving early.”
“This home means safety, stability, and dignity,” Beverly said. “My mother has given so much to this community. To see her smile again is everything.”
The Rodriguez family has long been active in youth mentorship programs and engineering education initiatives in Altadena, helping guide local students toward careers in architecture and technology. Beverly, who teaches at John Muir High School brought around 20 ACE Mentor Program of America students in the architecture, engineering program to experience first-hand to learn from this example.
As Los Angeles confronts a future shaped by climate resilience and housing innovation, the Altadena installation offers a working blueprint. Faster permitting. Smarter construction. Public and private alignment. Direct community impact.
Barger emphasized that rebuilding is not only about construction speed but about removing financial and institutional barriers that keep families stuck in limbo. “My focus is making sure people who want to rebuild can actually do so,” she said. “That means accelerating permits, waiving fees where possible, and helping families navigate insurance and SBA loans that were never designed for disasters of this scale. Many residents have lived on these properties for 30, 40, even 50 years. They are not developers. This process is intimidating, confusing, and emotionally overwhelming. Our job in government is to meet this moment with urgency and compassion, to clear pathways, not create obstacles, and to make sure rebuilding happens in a way that is safer, more fire resilient, and financially sustainable for the long term.”
“This is the future of recovery,” Supervisor Barger said. “And we are just getting started.”
When asked about his recent announcement not to pursue public office, Caruso reinforced that the decision was rooted in family and long-term service. “I always do what is in the best interest of my family,” he said. “I have more energy than ever and a lot to put into public enterprise and there are big plans ahead. You are going to be seeing a lot of me.” He emphasized that Steadfast LA represents the kind of work he intends to lead; action driven, community-focused, and built on public private partnerships.
By Michelle Edgar