Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and LAFD partner to provide COVID Care Kits to multigenerational households with a COVID positive family member. This unique partnership allows LAFD to provide supplies and personal protective equipment to homes at high risk of spreading the virus.
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez provided Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) with COVID Care Kits to help protect the community in Council District 7. These kits include gloves, masks, disinfectant and instructions on how to keep family members safe. As LAFD responds to multigenerational households with COVID patients, they will leave a kit with the family. Caring for a loved one with COVID increases the risk the virus will spread to other family members. These kits will give the family the supplies they need to minimize that risk while they isolate at home.
“The Northeast San Fernando Valley is ground zero for the pandemic,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “Many in this community are essential workers who do not have the luxury or means to stay home or purchase items that protect them. Further adding to the risk, many of these households are multigenerational families living in crowded conditions. Firefighters witnessing these circumstances in response to COVID related calls in the area, now have a new resource to leave with families, giving them a fighting chance against the spread of COVID-19.”
In April, Councilwoman Rodriguez recognized the increased risks these families would face and introduced legislation that would prioritize support for multigenerational households. She called for priority testing, additional testing sites and personal protective equipment for homes that contain multiple generations of family members living together.
Since then, COVID Care Kits have been provided throughout the district. Over 1,500 kits have been distributed in partnership with organizations and community groups such as SEIU-2015, Olive View UCLA Medical Center, Chicas Moms and People in Action for the Community. These partners provided kits to essential workers and long term health care providers who are at higher risk of contracting the virus.
This new partnership with LAFD expands the reach allowing the kits to be distributed in situations where they are greatly needed. This innovative approach to slowing the spread of COVID is the first program in the City of Los Angeles to bring PPE and COVID supplies directly to the households most in need.
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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez serves as the City’s Chair of Public Safety and represents the 7th Council District in the Northeast San Fernando Valley which include the neighborhoods of Sylmar, Mission Hills, Pacoima, Lake View Terrace, Sunland, Tujunga, North Hills, Shadow Hills, and La Tuna Canyon.