12 families displaced by Mission District fire placed in housing

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- ABC7 News has an update on the families who lost everything in the huge apartment fire in the Mission District in late January.

All 12 families have been placed in temporary housing in the city. Most are living on Treasure Island, two are living in the Mission District and three are at Parkmerced.

This week, most of them have been receiving a little extra from an online furniture company.

Ana Alas was overjoyed to see her living and dining rooms full of furniture, thanks to a San Francisco company called Move Loot.

"We have beds, tables, living room, dining room, some decor as well, some paintings and lamps," Move Loot's Jenny Morrill said.

Move Loot is an online site where people can buy and sell used furniture, but once in a while some of it doesn't sell.

"If it doesn't sell, we offer our sellers the option to either have it returned to them or donate to charity," Morrill said.

That's how Alas and her family were able to furnish their home.

Morrill worked with the Salvation Army, which then reached out to the 12 families to see what they needed.

The January fire displaced these families and many small businesses were also badly damaged.

"Everything is under water. It's flooded inside," one neighbor said.

Alas also worked at Antojitos Salvadorenos, a restaurant located in the same building.

She said she lost it all but two weeks ago, she was able to move into a three-bedroom apartment in Park Merced.

"They were paying about $900 for a studio in the Mission District. They lost their house because of the fire and now they are moving into a three-bedroom apartment," Salvation Army's Captain Rene Carcamo said.

The San Francisco Human Services Department was able to reach a deal with the owner of the apartment complex to make sure that Alas and her family pay the same amount in rent as they did before.

"Hay que aprovechar para dar las gracias a todos que nos ha ayudado," Alas said, which translates to her wanting to make sure to thank everyone who has helped her and her family.

If you'd like to donate to help the victims of the Mission District fire, click here.

PHOTOS: Deadly fire in SF's Mission District