By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund to deliver $105 million in mortgage relief to homeowners whose properties were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by recent natural disasters, including the Los Angeles County firestorms in January. The program opens for applications on June 12, offering grants of up to $20,000 per eligible household.
“Homeowners whose homes were destroyed in a recent fire, flood or other disaster deserve support in their recovery,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “The state is here to support. Today, California is extending this ongoing support to disaster victims in Los Angeles and beyond, by assisting with mortgage payments to relieve financial pressure and stress as families rebuild and recover.”
To qualify, the home must have been impacted by a disaster that received a State of Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration between January 2023 and January 2025, including events such as the Eaton Fire, Park Fire, and San Diego floods. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) will manage the program, and funds will go directly to mortgage servicers. The grants do not need to be repaid.
The state is also pairing the fund with $25 million in housing counseling to help homeowners navigate recovery. “The CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide more than $100 million in valuable support to help ease the financial pressure survivors face,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
CalHFA Chief Deputy Director Rebecca Franklin emphasized, “Hard-working families across the state, from Altadena to Chico, deserve relief as they work to recover from these devastating events.”
Homeowners can find eligibility information and apply at CalAssistMortgageFund.org or call 800-501-0019 for assistance. Applications are free and grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
