Wildfire victims may get grants up to $18K under LA County’s new relief program

Los Angeles County residents affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires can apply for up to $18,000 grants starting Wednesday.

The Household Relief Grant Program, which was launched by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors earlier this month, will distribute more than $32 million.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who introduced the motion along with Supervisor Kathryn Barger, told LAist the program is for those who need help now with costs that aren’t covered by FEMA or insurance.

“It closes gaps, but it also provides … a little bit of spiritual and mental relief that people need to know that they're not alone, that somebody is actually there listening to their worries, to their concerns, and showing up with help that's actually meaningful,” Horvath said.

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How it works

People can apply here for $6,000, $12,000 or $18,000 grants, depending on who and how many people are in the household.

The money can be used for essentials, such as housing, living expenses, funeral costs and repairs. It cannot double up on any other forms of assistance, including FEMA, insurance or similar relief programs. And only one grant per address is allowed.

You may be eligible if:

• You’re a homeowner or tenant in L.A. County who’s been physically displaced by the fires or windstorm
• Your primary residence was completely destroyed, partially destroyed, or has been severely damaged and is uninhabitable
• Someone in your household died from the Eaton and Palisades fires

People will be prioritized based on need, including those without insurance, gaps in their coverage or health conditions.

Horvath said they want to make sure the most vulnerable and most at risk are supported, but the program is here for anyone who needs it.

“ I've received feedback from some community members that they weren't quite sure whether they qualified, that they were concerned if they came forward either because they're undocumented or because, you know, maybe they've transitioned so their gender identity doesn't match on their I.D.,” she said. “ The county understands that we have the diverse constituency and we're here to help everybody. So if you think you might qualify, apply!”

The county will reach out if there are any issues with your application, Horvath added.

The fund is being overseen by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) in partnership with nonprofit The Center by Lendistry.

Rafael Carbajal, director of DCBA, said in a statement that they worked closely to create a streamlined application process that’s simple and accessible.

“We are leveraging every resource available to the county to ensure that families can focus on healing and rebuilding without the added burden of financial uncertainty,” Carbajal said in a statement.

The application is available in English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Persian, Russian and Tagalog.

The deadline is March 12.

How to get help

If you need a little extra assistance with the application in English or Spanish, you can stop by either of the Disaster Recovery Centers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

• Altadena Disaster Recovery Center
  540 W. Woodbury Road
  Altadena, CA 91001
  
• UCLA Research Park West
  10850 West Pico Blvd.
  Los Angeles, CA 90064
  

How you can contribute

You can also support the program and donate directly through L.A. County’s portal here, which Horvath said is a great way to know exactly where your money is going.

“They can trust that it's going to the people who are most impacted and are in greatest need of this kind of assistance,” she said.