Responding to Crisis, Restoring Stability: HEART’s Work Across Los Angeles
- INFO HEART LA
- Dec 1
- 5 min read
We HEART L.A.: Responding to Devastation through Community Care
In January 2025, Los Angeles County faced two catastrophic wildfires fueled by severe windstorms, leading to widespread devastation and loss across the Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities. As housing rights advocates, HEART mobilized and redirected priority efforts to support folks impacted by this crisis with housing navigation and pet resources – all while maintaining HEART’s mission at the forefront: to keep families and their companion animals housed.
Our rapid response and ability to provide direct services was made possible by a $25,000 grant generously awarded by PetSmart Charities.
Eleven months later, the need for housing navigation support and resources for people and their pets remains high in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades areas. HEART remains committed to continued support in these areas, but we can only do this in community.
Thousands of people are still waiting for relief. The 2025 wildfires destroyed over 9,000 homes and left families in crisis. Many are still struggling, facing skyrocketing rents, uninsured homes, and toxic residues that make rebuilding nearly impossible. HEART is fighting for housing equity and long-term recovery, but we can't do it without you.
Your gift fuels solutions that restore stability and protect vulnerable communities by:
Connecting families with legal aid, tenant protections, and housing navigation support
Advocating for fair insurance practices
Extending rental assistance programs
Pushing for rebuilding reforms that protect vulnerable families
Please consider donating to HEART today to become a part of our support network and community. Your donation will directly support families with pets enduring housing challenges.
Meet HEART LA’s new Director!
Diana Cruz-Rivas was born and raised in Los Angeles and currently resides in Koreatown with her husband and their two beloved pets – Ranger and Icarus. She holds a B.S. in Sustainable Environmental Design with a focus on Participatory Urbanism from UC Davis and has worked and volunteered in a variety of community engagement and organizing efforts. Diana first encountered HEART as a client in 2018 and became an official team member in 2020. Since joining the team, Diana spearheaded impactful initiatives, such as direct client support, community engagement events, volunteer recruitment and the expansion of HEART’s board. Additionally, Diana has built and sustained a strong presence in both the animal well-being sector through relationship-building, speaking engagements and consultative services.
In this brief video, Diana shares what HEART has been up to and what our partners, clients, and supporters can look forward to!
Knowledge Nook: Our Latest Presentations
At HEART, education is a key part of strengthening communities and keeping people and their companion animals safely housed. Our team continues to share impactful presentations with partners across the state and animal well-being industry.
Our presentation, “Culturally Responsive Customer Care,” featured HEART’s Diana Cruz-Rivas and Deisy Melero in California for All Animals’ Multicultural Engagement series. They shared how their lived experience shapes the way they support clients facing disaster, eviction threats, and language or legal barriers. Their practical guidance emphasized:
Building trust through lived experience
Practicing active, non-judgmental listening
Meeting people where they are with empathy and flexibility
Our presentation, “Housing Rights for People with Emotional Support Animals,” led by Zaira Bernal and Diana Cruz-Rivas, explored the challenges tenants with disabilities face when trying to keep their Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) despite protections under the Fair Housing Act. They walked through what ESA documentation requires, why accessing it is often so difficult for low-income and marginalized communities, and the steps shelters and service providers can take to advocate alongside tenants. Key takeaways included:
Understanding ESA rights
Navigating documentation barriers
Implementing practical, community-led solutions that prevent unnecessary separation of people and their support animals
Our presentation, “Under One Roof: How Intake Data Can Streamline Human and Animal Services Collaboration,” co-led by Lucy Fernandez (Senior Intake Diversion/PASS Program Manager at Austin Pets Alive!) and Diana Cruz-Rivas (Program Director at HEART LA), focused on the power of collaborative, trauma-informed intake practices to better support people and their pets. Presented at both Maddie’s Fund’s Community Conversations and in-person at the Humane World for Animals' (formerly Humane Society of the United States) Animal Care Expo in Las Vegas, the session highlighted how intentional data practices and cross-organizational partnerships can reduce unnecessary surrenders and improve outcomes for families. Key takeaways included:
Moving from transactional to trauma-informed, human-centered intake
Using shared intake data to identify community needs and streamline support
Strengthening collaboration between human and animal services to keep families together
Together, these sessions highlight HEART’s ongoing commitment to culturally responsive advocacy and keeping families and pets together.
Showing HEART in the Community
HEART partners with organizations across Los Angeles to meet pet families where they are, share housing rights information, and connect people with the resources they need to stay safely housed with their animals. These in-person events strengthen community support and raise awareness about HEART’s work.
A special thank you to Pasadena Humane and Foothill Unity Center for including HEART in their recent pet vaccination event. We’re also grateful to Michelsen Found Animals and The Labelle Foundation for hosting Pet Wellness Day, where families received free supplies, food, vaccines, and microchips.
Together, we’re building a more supportive, connected Los Angeles for people and their pets.
Investing in HEART: A Huge Thank You to This Year's Funding Partners!
We are deeply grateful to the funding partners who have invested in HEART’s mission and strengthened our ability to support Angelenos and their pets through crisis. This year’s grants help expand our disaster response work, housing advocacy, and community-based support services.
Learn more about these generous partners and the impact of their contributions in our recent press releases highlighting support from Athletes for Animals, PetSmart Charities, Maddie’s Fund, California Community Foundation and ASPCA.
This Giving Season we are aiming to raise $10,000 to support our mission of keeping people and their beloved pets housed together. Our mission in action includes various methods of support and advocacy tailored to each individual’s priorities. Every dollar raised this Giving Tuesday will fund critical services that bridge housing and animal wellbeing and bring hope when it’s needed most, including: housing navigation and advocacy, disaster relief for f
amilies with pets, access to pet supportive services and systemic change.
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