For people who have lost their homes to natural disasters, sustainable home solutions may not be top of mind. But L.A. area residents who lost their homes in the January 2025 wildfires are proving that interest is high in rebuilding in more climate-friendly ways. Now, many are finding support from a network of local, state and nonprofit organizations that come together to help in myriad ways — from financial support to design options to homeowner documentation — for people to realize those goals.
Hear how public programs such as RISE Homes and L.A. Department of Water and Power’s HOME LA Programs are joining forces with Community Based Organizations focused on recovery efforts to ensure that sustainable rebuilds are an option even under the most challenging circumstances.
Learn more about this program and join the discussion about impacts and opportunities in your community.
Resources
Websites
- The Foothill Catalog Foundation
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Programs and Rebates
- MySafe:LA
- RISE Homes
Program coordinators are standing by to answer questions.
Info@RiseHomesCA.com
833-202-3654
Meet the Speakers
Cameron Barrett
Co-Founder
Safe Community Project (MySafe:LA) and the California Fire Prevention Organization
MacKenzie (Mack) Champlin
Director of Programs and Partnerships
The Foothill Catalog Foundation
Patrice Hicks
Program Manager of RISE Homes
ICF
Enayet Miah
Manager of Distributed Energy Solutions Division
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
Cameron Barrett
Cameron Barrett is the co-founder of the Safe Community Project (MySafe:LA) and the California Fire Prevention Organization. She is in charge of content creation for both non-profits and makes award-winning documentaries, podcasts, public service announcements, online courses and educational content in the disaster preparedness and emergency response space. Her stories and online courses target the public, as well as professional first responders. Trained as a journalist and documentarian at Northwestern and Brown Universities, her mission in every production is to bring passion to the story, joy to the project, and compel her viewers to learn and grow.
MacKenzie Champlin
MacKenzie Champlin is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Foothill Catalog Foundation, where he leads programs that help fire survivors rebuild using the organization’s collection of preapproved architectural designs. He develops platforms and processes that support the homeowner rebuild pathway, from initial sign-up and design selection through plan review, licensing, and connection to rebuilding services. He builds partnerships with community organizations, public agencies, architects, builders, and technical collaborators to expand the tools and services available to homeowners.
Born and raised in Pasadena, MacKenzie has a background in architecture, sustainability, and product and service design. He holds a Master of Architecture with Distinction from SCI-Arc and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from UCLA.
Patrice Hicks
Patrice Hicks, Program Manager for RISE Homes (Rebuilding Incentives for Sustainable Electric Homes), a CA Public Utilities Commission program administered by ICF. Patrice brings nearly 20 years of experience in California’s energy industry. Prior to joining ICF, she worked for a California investor-owned utility, where she helped advance energy efficiency, demand response, and electrification initiatives.
Today, Patrice leads RISE Homes, supporting homeowners as they rebuild after wildfires and other natural disasters by promoting all-electric, energy-efficient homes. Through this work, she helps advance California’s decarbonization, resilience, and clean energy goals while supporting community recovery efforts.
Enayet Miah
Enayet Miah is a leader at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), where he oversees operations within the Distributed Energy Solutions (DES) Division’s Commercial, Industrial & Institutional (CI&I), Multifamily, and Field Support program units. With more than a decade of experience advancing energy efficiency and conservation, Enayet manages a diverse portfolio of customer-focused programs that promote sustainability, electrification, and equitable energy.
Under his guidance, LADWP has launched and expanded flagship initiatives such as the Comprehensive Affordable Multifamily Retrofits (CAMR) Program and the Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP)—initiatives that are reshaping how the utility serves underserved communities, reduces energy burdens, and supports cleaner, more efficient infrastructure. He holds a B.A. in Economics from California State University, Long Beach and an MBA from the University of California, Davis.
