“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend, and I’m not being metaphorical here,” said Alisha Das after working with an Operation HOPE Disaster Recovery Coach for five months. “I truly think it is divinely ordained. It absolutely lives up to its name. I want people to know that there is support that has no agenda, but to help.”
In the Palisades Fire, one of a series that burned through Southern California in January and the most destructive to ever occur in the City of Los Angeles, Alisha found that her home was still standing but inhabitable. Her house had severe smoke damage and was found to contain high levels of lead, asbestos, and other hazardous materials. Due to a previous life-threatening exposure, she has a medically-documented sensitivity to lead, making remediation—the process of making the property safe and habitable again—both urgent and highly sensitive.
Alisha shared, “my original goal was to get back in my home and do so in a way that did not financially break my family. The hardships I faced were, of course, losing my city of Pacific Palisades and being displaced from my home and moving to six different locations in five months. Also, I felt completely overwhelmed by the insurance and FEMA process.”
Once Alisha met Coach Andrew Avina at the Palisades Muli-Agency Resource Center, she realized she was no longer alone on this path. Andrew explained, “disaster disrupts more than just physical possessions; it unsettles the financial stability and systems people depend on. My mission is to help survivors regain control and confidence, transforming uncertainty into actionable steps toward a stronger, more resilient future.”
Together, they evaluated each stage of Alisha’ recovery process. “From the beginning, her recovery was challenged by a stalled insurance process and lack of responsiveness from her adjuster, which later disrupted her FEMA case,” Andrew said. “Many available resources, including rental assistance and case management, were not accessible to her due to location eligibility.”
After unsuccessfully working through the insurance claims with a public adjuster and later with a law firm, they chose a different strategy. They determined that self-advocacy was the best course, and with Andrew’s continued support, Alisha successfully negotiated the release of remediation funds.
From there, they jointly vetted several remediation contractors, reviewing associated costs per service description and confirming whether the scope of work reflected heavy remediation, rather than just “light” or superficial services. They ensured contractors understood her unique health considerations and carried sufficient overhead to mitigate any potential damages during the work.
Their detailed comparisons paid off—literally. Alisha saved over $120,000 with the contractor they selected together, compared to the others that inflated costs. “I define success in this story of feeling incredibly supported and moving things forward that would’ve been almost impossible by myself, like FEMA applications and deadlines, remediation experts, and learning about resources,” she shared.
“The insight I have received is that truly we are not alone if we have Operation HOPE. I have referred them to so many friends and neighbors. People think that only a certain demographic needs help, and that is not true. People are people and Operation HOPE treats all of us equally. It’s a beautiful inspiration and reflection for the world.”
Alisha is a highly respected spiritual leader and humanitarian, with an international nonprofit working in the Congo, Ghana, and other African countries to implement solar power and clean water systems for underserved communities. Therefore, once Alisha completed this milestone to returning home, Andrew connected her with his colleague, Small Business Coach Christopher Santiago, for business recovery support.
Reflecting on her experience, Alisha shared, “this has changed my mindset towards finance and helped me see that I really can survive and even thrive as a single mother after the fires. My life is different now in that I feel that much of the trauma from the fires has abated. I feel more sovereign and that I have more agency over my business, and most of all, I feel supported.”
With hope and a path forward, Alisha is “looking forward to one day living back in the Palisades in a way that is healthy and triumphant.”
To learn more about the HOPE Inside Disaster Program and other resources: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on X, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.