MusiCares

GET HELP

MusiCares provides crisis relief, preventive care, recovery resources, and need-based financial assistance for people across all music professions. 

**MusiCares is a resource to eligible music professionals impacted by natural disasters, including the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. Contact MusiCares to get started, and scroll down to view all MusiCares’ & external fire relief resources.**

Reach out for help: [email protected] or 800.687.4227. MusiCares’ expert staff treat cases with integrity and confidentiality. 

If you or someone you care about is in an emergency, please call 911 or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.  MusiCares is not a crisis hotline; we provide support tailored to clients’ unique challenges over a period of time.

Family members or friends may contact MusiCares on behalf of a music professional with their permission. 

HOW WE HELP

MusiCares provides crisis relief, preventive care, recovery resources and need-based financial assistance in three key areas: 

  • Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services include preventive resources such as emotional support groups, referrals and financial assistance for counseling/therapy, and mental wellness workshops. In times of crisis, MusiCares facilitates and funds inpatient addiction recovery and mental health treatment and IPO (intensive outpatient) care. To bolster recovery, MusiCares provides continued outpatient care, assistance with sober living placement and costs, and hosts several addiction recovery support groups each week. 

  • Health Services focus on emergency financial assistance for medical expenses and loss of work due to illness or injury, and recovery support through access to physical therapy and continued wellness resources. MusiCares also offers a variety of targeted health services including biannual clinics for dental, vision, and physical/holistic health, as well as ongoing hearing health and education services, smoking cessation efforts, and more.

  • Human Services include preventive programs addressing financial literacy, affordable housing, career development, legal issues, and senior services. In times of hardship, MusiCares provides humanitarian disaster relief, emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments and insurance premiums, assistance with instrument replacement/repair if stolen or damaged in a natural disaster (excluding wear-and-tear), and funeral costs for a music professional or their family member.  

Please reach out to MusiCaresRelief@musicares.org for more information or with questions about our services.

WHO WE SERVE

Anyone working in the music industry is encouraged to contact MusiCares for help.  This includes musicians, songwriters, engineers, producers, live crew, tour bus drivers, managers, agents, A&R, makeup artists, costume designers, music video creatives & technicians, and anyone whose livelihood depends on music or makes music happen.  

Those requesting financial assistance must possess documentation of employment history in one of the following areas: 

  • A minimum of five years employment in the music industry (three years for disaster relief), OR 

  • Six commercially released recordings or videos (singles) 

All approved assistance is paid directly to a third party or creditor such as a landlord, bank, utility company, hospital, doctor, or therapist. 

Many preventive resources are free and available to all. See our events page and social media to access all clinics, screenings, workshops and webinars. 

MusiCares serves music professionals in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 

Resources for Those Affected by the Los Angeles Area Fires 

MusiCares Disaster Relief Support 

MusiCares is a resource to the music community impacted by the fires in the Los Angeles area. MusiCares provides short-term disaster relief, including $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card, to music professionals impacted. MusiCares disaster relief is intended to cover short-term costs, should you incur costs from evacuating (hotel, food, supplies). MusiCares is also able to provide additional support for individuals with considerable impact, including medical issues, damaged music equipment or longer-term relocation needs.  

Individuals are eligible for MusiCares disaster relief support after 3 years employment in music in any capacity or credit on 6 commercially-released recordings. If you would like to request support from MusiCares, please reach out to [email protected].  

Mental Health Support 

Music professionals may access financial assistance and referrals for mental health through MusiCares. Please reach out to musicaresrelief@musicares,org. 

Support groups: MusiCares and Amber Health are providing 6 in-person and virtual support groups specifically tailored to the needs of those navigating the trauma of the Los Angeles area fires. Please join us.

MusiCares facilitates weekly, virtual support groups free to all music professionals. They can be accessed here: Weekly Support Groups 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides free resources to access substance use services, mental health providers and additional resources. 

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Help Kids Cope | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) provides guidance and resources for parents to support their children to navigate the stress and trauma of disasters. MusiCares can also provide financial assistance and placement in mental health services for the children of eligible music professionals.  

This Good Inside resource (Gi_ResourcesforParentsNavigatingtheCaliforniaWildfires) provides helpful guidance on having conversations with children about the fires and sample scripts.  

988: If you or someone you know may be having suicidal thoughts or navigating a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 lifelife (Get Help - 988 Lifeline) 

 

Guidance to Prepare for a Safe Evacuation 

The FEMA Wildfire Evacuation Checklist provides guidance on how to plan, prepare and pack for an evacuation.  

Wildfire Evacuation Checklist 

Accessing Up-to-date Information 

211LA (Greater Los Angeles Wildfires | 211LA) includes regularly updated information on the size of the fires, evacuation orders and warnings, school closures and power outages. 

Genasys Protect App (Genasys Protect)  provides real-time updates via push notifications on fire status and evacuations. 

Air Quality Information: Air Quality Index App 

Accessing Shelter 

The County of Los Angeles Emergency Website (Emergency – COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) has regularly updated information on access to shelters. Current shelters are listed below. 

  • Calvary Community Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village, CA 91362 

  • Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331 

  • Pan Pacific Recreational Center – 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 

  • Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 

  • Pasadena Civic Auditorium – 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 

  • Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 

  • Stoner Recreation Center – 1835 Stoner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025 

 

AirBNB (CS Care) is providing a limited number of airbnb rentals free of charge to individuals affected by evacuations. Individuals must demonstrate that they live in an area under evacuation.  

Accessing Food 

The Los Angeles Food Bank (Locate a Partner Agency) has a full list of food banks and resources available.  

World Central Kitchen is distributing free meals to the public. You can access locations through the website. (World Central Kitchen | Meal Distribution Sites: California Fires) 

Pet Support 

If you need to evacuate and cannot care for your pet, shelters are available at the following locations. 

Small Animals: 

  • Agoura Animal Care Center 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 

  • Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 

  • Carson Animal Care Center 216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248 

  • Downey Animal Care Center 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242 

  • Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536 

  • Palmdale Animal Care Center 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550 

Large Animals: 

  • Pomona Fairplex 1101 W McKinley Ave. Pomona 

  • Industry Hills Expo 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744 

  • Antelope Valley Fair 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536 

 

Locating Missing Family 

Family Assistance Centers will open to provide information to people looking for missing family and friends due to the January 2025 fires in Los Angeles County. For more information contact (800) 675-5799 or visit redcross.org. 

Family Assistance Center at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center 
2551 Motor Ave 
Los Angeles, Ca 90064 

Family Assistance Center at Pasadena Convention Center 
Visitor’s Bureau (building to the left of the civic auditorium) 
300 E Green St. 
Pasadena, Ca 91101