California will launch a $105 million disaster relief program on Thursday to assist homeowners whose properties were damaged or rendered uninhabitable by recent wildfires and other declared disasters.
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund, administered by the California Housing Finance Agency, will provide grants of up to $20,000 — equal to approximately three months of mortgage payments — to eligible homeowners struggling to recover from major disasters.
“Homeowners whose home was destroyed in a recent fire, flood, or other disaster deserve support in their recovery. We know that recovery takes time, and the state is here to support,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
The fund will support those affected by disasters declared a state of emergency by the governor or receiving a federal major disaster declaration between January 2023 and January 2025.
Incidents include the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, Park Fire and Tropical Storm Hilary. A full list of qualified incidents can be found here.
CalHFA will also offer $25 million in housing counseling support through its National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program. None of the new relief funding affects the state’s proposed budget for 2025-2026, according to the governor’s office.
Applications for the grant will open June 12 at CalAssistMortgageFund.org. The grants do not need to be repaid and are free to apply for. Approved funds will be sent directly to mortgage servicers on behalf of the homeowner.
