Build
Empower
Advocate
Community
Outreach
Network
Build Empower Advocate Community Outreach Network
The BEACON Story
The Eaton Fire didn't just destroy homes. It threatened something harder to rebuild: a community.
Altadena has been a haven for Black homeownership and multigenerational families for over a century. When the fire came, it took houses, history, and for many — the realistic hope of returning. BEACON was built to change that.
BEACON — Build, Empower, Advocate, Community Outreach Network — is a nonprofit rebuilding ecosystem committed to a single goal: Altadena rebuilt within five years, for the people who lived there.
BEACON =
Build
Empower
Advocate
Community
Outreach
NetworkWe connect homeowners to qualified, community-rooted builders. We help survivors navigate insurance claims and close the gaps when payouts fall short. We support contractors so projects get finished. And we advocate for the policies that make it possible for Altadena's residents to stay, rebuild, and thrive.
Impact looks like Altadena continuing to belong to Altadenians.
The Stakes
9,400+
Structures destroyed by the Eaton Fire — making it the second most destructive wildfire in California history.Fewer than 1 in 5
Burned homes in Altadena have been issued rebuilding permits. The clock is running.Sources: Catalyst California, LAIST, Milliman, Erica Alexis / BEACON75%
Of Altadena fire survivors are underinsured — with gaps between insurance payouts and actual rebuild costs averaging $200,000–$400,000 per home.5 Years
That's BEACON's commitment. 1,000 permits pulled. 500 families home. Altadena 95% restored by 2030.What BEACON Does
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We screen and support contractors so homeowners don't have to sort through an unregulated market alone.
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Most survivors are underinsured — and many don't know it. BEACON helps homeowners understand what their policy actually owes them and how to fight for it.
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Projects fail when contractors run out of resources mid-build. Our cohort program and financial support keep builders solvent and projects on track.
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Lower material costs mean more homeowners can afford to rebuild within their insurance budget.
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When insurance isn't enough — and for most survivors, it isn't — BEACON's grant program closes the difference between what's owed and what it costs to come home.
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Advocates for policy that protects residents
OUR FOUNDER
BEACON was founded by Erica Alexis — a licensed general contractor, developer, and lifelong believer in what ownership can do for a family and a community.
Erica built her career on a simple principle inherited from her great-grandfather and grandfather: build with excellence, finish what you start, and reach back to help others. When the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, she saw a community facing the same forces that take wealth from families who've worked generations to build it.
BEACON is her answer to that. Not a short-term relief effort — a five-year commitment to making sure Altadena comes back for the people who made it home.
Upcoming Events
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BEACON Builder Fair
April 11th
A gathering for Altadena homeowners, local contractors, donors, and community members. Come to connect, learn, and be part of the rebuild.
Community Led Development
One Schedule. One Model. One Community.
Altadena rebuilt within 5 years
Gap Financing Fund Closes the gap between what insurance pays and what it actually costs to come home.
BEACON LA
Infrastructure Fund Funds the operational infrastructure that makes community-wide rebuilding possible.
BEACON ALTADENA
sign up for the program
We’re proud to partner with The Center by Lendistry to support contractors ready to scale through a new Accelerator Program.