Meet Carolyn Smith: A Story of Resilience in Altadena

For more than 30 years, Carolyn Smith has called Altadena home. When a devastating fire destroyed her house, she was faced with the unimaginable. But Carolyn never gave up.

Today, she stands as the very first recipient of a Model/Z ADU through the Restore and Rebuild Fund, a grant program made possible through the generosity of SoLa Impact and partner foundations. 

Carolyn’s new 419 sq ft ADU features a spacious bedroom and bathroom, a full kitchen with ENERGY STAR appliances, and a comfortable living area — designed with ADA accessibility, high energy efficiency, and non-combustible steel framing to ensure safety and longevity.

What makes Carolyn’s story so powerful is her determination to remain rooted in the community she has called home for over three decades. With her Model/Z ADU serving as a safe, temporary home on her property, she can stay connected to her neighbors and community while her primary house is being rebuilt and benefit from the additional space once it's fully complete. This is the very mission of the Restore and Rebuild Fund: to keep families in place, supported, and resilient through the unimaginable.

Carolyn is one of five recipients who will receive a Model/Z ADU through this program. Her story reflects the heart of this initiative: restoring stability, rebuilding community, and proving what’s possible when innovation and philanthropy work hand in hand.

Stay tuned as we share more updates on the delivery and install of Carolyn’s new home.