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As Wildfires Raged, One Nonprofit Evacuated and Supported Neurodivergent Residents Throughout It All
Villa Esperanza, a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operates an independent living program across seven locations in Pasadena that house 76 residents. When January's fires broke out, the organization's staff swung into action to get residents to safety.
Villa Esperanza, a nonprofit supporting adults with developmental disabilities, has been supporting residents impacted by the Eaton Fire. Here, residents and staff take part in the organizations day programs. (Photo by Villa Esperanza)
As smoke billowed across the Los Angeles skyline in early January, Damien Lee was driving into residential neighborhoods to help evacuate people. As he made his way through Pasadena neighborhoods, he had a particular mission in mind–reaching a household of neurodivergent adults in independent living to let them know it was time to leave.
“It was scary,” he said. “And so windy and so smoky everywhere.”
Lee is director of residential services for Villa Esperanza, an organization that supports people with special needs. Lee and his colleagues had practiced fire drills in the past, but this was real. Two households of adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities had to evacuate the wildfire zones.
Helping them gather essentials would be challenging, as well as accounting for any medical vulnerabilities. Ambulatory challenges, the need for timely administered medication, and their varying levels of independence all made evacuations difficult. People living with disabilities can be particularly vulnerable during emergency situations.
Natural disasters can limit access in and out of risk areas and make it more difficult to transport people to areas of safety. The need to evacuate quickly can increase injuries, given the fast-paced movement, which increases fall risks and the chance that people will be forced to evacuate without medical devices or medications needed to sustain their health. Recovering from the disaster may be more difficult given medication requirements, physical limitations, and associated housing costs.
But the Villa Esperanza staff were determined to maintain everyone’s safety and security.
Lee is one of several long-term employees at Villa Esperanza, where he has worked for more than two decades. When the Eaton Fire forced evacuations, staff members set their needs aside to put others first.
Most of the people the nonprofit serves are neurodivergent and diagnosed with varying forms of autism. Families and individuals seek the help of Villa Esperanza for community support, education, and resources for independent living, community connectedness, and avenues for socialization. The nonprofit’s dedicated staff has led to the organization’s long-term success in assisting autistic residents throughout their lifetime.
Villa Esperanza’s day programs encourage participants to socialize within the community. (Photo by Villa Esperanza)
Gioia Pastre, vice president of philanthropy at the nonprofit, said the hearts of the staff are in the mission of the organization. There is a desire to create a inclusive spaces that empower people through love, care, and kindness.
“I think what it’s saying to the community, and what the community is saying, is we value you,” she said. “We value you as an individual with a disability, (and) you deserve to have buildings for your services and for what you do.”
As a result of the fires, about 10 participants from Villa Esperanza’s independent living program had to find alternative living arrangements for a couple of weeks due to minor smoke damage and the lack of electricity. Staff members across the nonprofit charity supported the evacuation efforts, even as some of those same staff had to evacuate their own families or had lost property from the fires.
“Villa is family, that’s what it feels like,” said Lee.
The familial feeling is part of why colleagues at Villa Esperanza say the work is rewarding. And during a time of intense stress, staff members said all they could think about was helping the residents.
Villa Esperanza has independent living programs that support participants who no longer live with their families but may need assistance with everyday tasks like medication assistance and grocery shopping (Photo by Villa Esperanza).
The organization follows a continuity of care model that allows the participants to age in place, or the ability to live safely and independently while having a positive quality of life and still support any medical needs.
Villa Esperanza’s independent living program is spread across seven homes in Pasadena to accommodate 76 residents. Many are living away from home for the first time and require assistance with tasks like grocery shopping and finding public transportation. The homes and apartments are within the neighborhoods of some of the participants’ families to maintain social connectedness.
The homes have Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant modifications to support the physical needs of residents, including wheelchair-accessible showers, additional railings, and ramps to and from entryways. The residential participants experience varying levels of independence, from money management and grocery shopping to medication administration and hygiene support. Several rely on the nonprofit to administer daily medications to combat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and seizures.
Darryl Goodus, vice president of adult programs, found it appealing that the nonprofit prioritizes the needs of the patients when he was looking for career opportunities.
“It’s really an honor, sincerely,” said Goodus about working at Villa Esperanza.
Goodus, who previously worked within hospital care, has been employed by Villa Esperanza for 14 years. He said the employees rely on each other for collaborative approaches and solutions to provide the best care for the participants. While they work with people of all ages, the youngest person in the independent living program is 22 years old, and the oldest is 77. The eldest has been involved with Villa Esperanza for nearly 27 years.
Villa Esperanza’s residential programs allow participants to experience varying levels of independence based on their needs. (Photo by Villa Esperanza)
Through the program, participants have found internships, social groups, volunteer opportunities, and part-time and full-time jobs. And even as the fires burned, the work of the staff continued. They used flashlights and backup batteries to help the residents navigate the walkways amid the smog. The intense winds blew open doors and increased the dangerous situation as they walked outside the houses.
“It really takes the effort of the team, the commitment of the team, and it really is interesting because we rely on each other a lot,” Goodus said. “It’s a lot of collaboration and teamwork.”
The vice president said federal and state-related budget cuts have made their work more difficult. Covid-19 dwindled the workforce, and Goodus said they have yet to fill vacancies. While working with groups that have complex medical needs can be challenging, Goodus said that the participants’ upbeat and honest attitudes always put life’s hurdles in perspective, and he has more appreciation for each day.
“They’re gonna have challenges and things to work on,” he said. “But they’re real and genuine (about it) and I think that’s why I stay at Villa.”
Direct Relief supported Villa Esperanza with a $50,000 emergency operating grant to support Villa clients and staff impacted by the Eaton Fire with immediate and long-term support.
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