After losing her home to the devastating Eaton Fire earlier this year, a single mother of two is speaking out about her ongoing struggle with homelessness.
Kahnai Jackson, 27, was renting a room in a house in Altadena when the fire swept through the area and destroyed everything she had. Because she didn’t have a lease or utility bills in her name, she doesn’t qualify for government assistance.
She is among a growing number of renters who are often overlooked during disasters—not because they weren’t affected, but because they lack the official documentation to prove residency in the impacted area.
“Being a renter, you don’t get anything like the owners do,” Jackson told Fox LA. “I just didn’t have the documents to get the help they were giving.”
Since the fire, Jackson has been living in her car or bouncing between motels with her children, Jeremiah, 5, and Jenia, 8. With no steady support system, they’ve had nowhere else to turn. Jackson works part-time jobs when she can and is also a full-time nursing student during the day.
“I’m working, doing side jobs, or whatever I can to get money,” she said. “But I can’t work as much as I want to because I’m in school most of the day. Then I have to pick up my kids by 6 — it’s a lot.”
Despite the challenges, she remains determined to build a better future for her children. In hopes of raising enough money for stable housing, Jackson launched a GoFundMe campaign.
“I’m just trying to be strong and give them a stable foundation,” she said. “So they won’t think this is normal.”
Her fundraiser has so far reached about half of its goal. On the campaign page, she shared, “We were already struggling before the fire, and now to lose everything, including our housing, has really hurt us. This will help us stay off the streets and get into a new home.”
“I just want to provide a better life for my kids, so if you could find it in your heart to help, I would really appreciate it.”
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Vikas Lalit is an experienced content writer at OTE News, covering business, economy, and international affairs. With a degree in Journalism, he combines analytical thinking with engaging storytelling to deliver well-researched updates. Vikas is passionate about uncovering underreported stories that impact readers.
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