Now, more than two months after the Woolsey Fire, some local families are still struggling to recover. To that end, an organization called “Malibu Love” has geared its website to “Adopt-a-Family”—allowing families in need and donors to connect directly online. The program was the brainchild of local homemaker and mom Tahia Hocking. Website founder, Kelly Wirht, a web designer who grew up in Malibu, and local Shayna Spreckman helped make it happen.
Hocking expressed the idea that many of the worst-affected families are becoming frustrated after receiving very little assistance over the past two months.
“They see millions of dollars being donated at various fundraisers for fire victims, yet most of these families haven’t gotten anything. It’s disheartening to them,” she said in a phone interview.
She points out that “Adopt-a-Family” is different from some other charities because it “cuts out the middle-man” and lets people with something to give—items as well as money—connect directly online with families needing the help. Donors can adopt as many families as they want, and families can be adopted by multiple donors. To adopt a family in need, or to become one of the families featured for adoption, go to malibulove.org/families-in-need.
The only requirement for a family to sign up is that they must have lost their home in the Woolsey Fire. Families are vetted by providing a FEMA claim number, pictures of their damaged property and a cross check of addresses with the City of Malibu website listing damaged/total loss properties.
Talley & the Connemara Ranch horses
Talley Hutcherson has lived and worked in Malibu for 40 years, originally coming to town as a Pepperdine student. Her business, Connemara Ranch on Cavalleri Road in Malibu, has 10 horses and offered trail rides in Zuma Canyon as well as equine therapy to Malibu rehab clients.
The day after the fire, her income and business activity plummeted to zero, where it remains. The money she made from taking people on trail rides ended when the National Park Service closed Zuma Canyon due to fire damage—and the park remains closed until further notice. Income from equine therapy ended because, she said, “most of the rehabs were burned out in the fires.”
“In one day, I completely lost all my income and my business has been shut down,” Hutcherson wrote. “I have no way to feed my horses and take care of my life financially. I applied to FEMA and other organizations, but was told I didn’t qualify for assistance. I started getting unemployment checks, but it’s only about $80 a week.”
“I’ve lived through many fires and have always been able to survive, but this fire has burned up everything for miles,” Hutcherson continued. “There’s nothing left but waiting for the parks to reopen, and even that’s been delayed with the government shutdown and mudslides.”
The 10 horses were evacuated for a time during the fire, but are back on the ranch, and their care and feeding costs about $6,000 a month. That doesn’t even count what Hutcherson needs to support herself.
Brooks Townsley (father) & Raena Ross-Townsley
(daughter)
After years of struggling to find affordable rental housing in the area large enough for him and his 12-year old daughter Raena—following a divorce with shared 50/50 custody—Brooks finally found a guest house 15 minutes up Latigo Canyon in January 2018. His ex-wife, Lisa, lives in the Palisades, and Raena attends sixth grade at a school in West LA.
Raena “loved having a real bedroom when she stayed with her dad, a kitchen to cook dinners, and enjoyed living right next to her two best friends more than anything in the world,” Lisa wrote.
The morning of the fire, father and daughter evacuated with only the clothes on their backs and had no insurance. “Brooks would never ask for anything,” Lisa wrote, “but he now needs help getting back on his feet with furnishings and an affordable place to live. And Raena no longer has a laptop or iPad.”
According to Lisa, Brooks’ occupation is working on boats in the Channel Islands Harbor Marina (Oxnard) and Marina Del Rey Marina, dividing his time between both. She describes him as an avid diver and organic gardener, and a quiet, helpful person who doesn’t party.
After spending the first few weeks after the fire staying with friends, he was given the use of a small studio in Malibu until he can find a place to rent in his price range—$1,200 per month. He would appreciate any leads for rentals in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Venice or Marina Del Rey.
