The state has expanded its income eligibility for the $105 million CalAssist Mortgage Fund – a grant program that was launched in June to support natural disaster victims.
The maximum household income limit for Angelenos increased from $140,700 to now $211,050.
While the program covers anyone whose home was destroyed or left uninhabitable from a range of 30 natural disasters across the state dating back to 2023, most of the funds dispersed thus far have gone to households impacted by the January wildfires, said Rebecca Franklin, chief deputy director of California Housing Finance Agency. For those who meet eligibility, the fund covers three months of mortgage payments with a cap of $20,000.
Since the program kicked off in June, Franklin said it has deployed $3 million in grants with 80% going to survivors of the Eaton Fire, 17% to survivors of the Palisades Fire and 3% to those who experienced disasters in other parts of the state.
The program’s previous income limit aligned with 100% of L.A. County’s area median income, while the new figure represents 150%. With the increase, Franklin said nearly twice as many natural disaster survivors will now be eligible.
“When we launched, we deliberately focused on lower-income households because our goal was to ensure the most vulnerable families had priority access to these resources, but we recognize that there are also homeowners above that low-income bracket that find themselves facing (financial hardship),” Franklin said.
Given the new increase, CalHFA notified about 900 households who previously applied for the grant but did not meet the prior eligibility, encouraging them to review the new standards and apply for aid accordingly.
Lori Gay, president and chief executive of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, said the new income figure is a “great number and a great space for a lot of people.”
“Disaster has no race, greed, color or income level. Everyone suffers so I’m grateful that the CalAssist team is back … (with) $211,000,” Gay said. “… We’ve seen what a difference a few months of relief can make for families. It allows them to breathe … and it gives them the space to see a future again.”
