Financial Help Reaching Survivors
Relief Dollars Delivered to Families, Renters & Small Businesses.
- 3 certified lenders joined the California Housing Finance Agency’s Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program.
- $3.2 billion + in Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans approved.
- $163 million + in FEMA funds provided directly to individuals for housing assistance and other disaster-related needs.
- $125 million in mortgage relief for impacted homeowners.
- $107.3 million to help rapidly build 673 new affordable rental homes for those impacted by fires.
- $23.4 million in grants awarded by the The LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund, with support from LA Rises.
- 100% of qualifying wildfire relief payments, including eligible settlements received by LA fire survivors, can be excluded from federal taxable income, regardless of when payments are received.
Accountability: Making Sure Insurance Does Its Part
We’ve made some progress in holding insurance companies accountable to Los Angeles fire survivors.
- 1-year protection against wildfire-related insurance cancellations and non-renewals for homeowners in designated fire-affected ZIP codes
- Extended living expense protections preventing insurers from ending covered temporary housing assistance before smoke-damaged homes are remediated and safe to occupy.
- Free insurance claim assistance through the California Department of Insurance, helping survivors navigate claims, resolve disputes, and understand their rights.
- $23.7 billion in insurance claims payments reported as of March 2026, with more than 40,000 claims at least partially paid following the LA wildfires.
- 90–120 days’ notice required before certain home insurance non-renewals under SB 1301, giving homeowners more time, clearer explanations, and opportunities to make improvements to maintain coverage.
Cleanup & Infrastructure: Clearing the Way
Thanks to the partnership of state, federal, and local government, California has broken records for the fastest disaster clean-up in American history.
Debris Removal
Public debris removal program cleared nearly 10,000 homes — months ahead of schedule.
Hazard Cleanup
100% of impacted lots cleared of hazardous waste within 30 days.
Power Lines Undergrounding
Local agencies have committed to undergrounding key power lines to reduce future fire risk and strengthen safety.
Water System Restoration
All 9 impacted water systems restored with safe drinking water, with infrastructure improvements underway to improve long-term resilience.
Smoke Damage Standards
First state in the country to enact enforceable smoke damage standards for how homes should be tested, cleaned, or restored
Review the community’s priorities for LA’s recovery, and learn how the government is taking action.
Faster Rebuilding: Cutting Red Tape
Local and state teams worked together to shorten timelines and make the rebuilding process easier. Thousands of permits have been issued, hundreds of homes are under construction across Altadena and the Palisades, and some families have even moved back home.
Accelerated Permitting
State + local changes help families get permits months faster than before.
Faster Review Times
Local review now takes under 30 days of reviewer time, on average.
More Staff to Speed Things Up
The state gave $4 million to local governments to hire more reviewers and speed up processing.
Continued Monitoring
Ongoing implementation and tracking of Executive Orders and new processes to expedite recovery.
Learn more about Archistar, an AI tool to fast track permitting
Community Spaces Coming Back
- Will Rogers State Historic Park — Reopened
- Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine — Reopened
- Loma Alta Park — Rebuilt and open
- Altadena Triangle Park — Reopened
- Mariposa Junction — Reopened
- Altadena Main Library — Reopened
- Altadena Town & Country Club — Reopened
Schools Back in Session
- 8 of 8 public schools damaged by fires resumed in person instruction within 100 days of the fires, due to quick action from the state.
- LAUSD and PUSD relocated students from destroyed campuses to nearby schools and temporary sites in continued service.
- Marquez Charter Elementary has returned to campus in September.
- Palisades Charter High School is returning to campus in January.
Partnerships Driving Recovery
Public–private partnerships and philanthropy brought new funds, faster solutions, and more support to families.
- 12 months of mortgage forbearance from banks and credit unions, and major national lenders are offering an additional 3 months, subject to investor approval
- A new AI tool for faster permitting
- Rebuilding resources to get families home faster
LA Rises has supported innovative programs in partnership with the State of California.
What’s Still Needed
We’ve Come Far — But Recovery Isn’t Finished.
Our vision is simple: every family deserves a stable, dignified path forward. We will continue pressing for the support survivors need and deserve. Together, we will rebuild, re-root, and reimagine our communities.
More Federal Support
- Survivors still face large financial gaps.
- Schools, Communities and Families need more federal funding to rebuild.
Insurance Must Do Its Part
- Insurance companies must meet their obligations so families can move home.
Financial Institutions Must Support Their Communities
- Recovery requires continued flexibility on mortgage payments for those who need it, and workable pathways for those leading forbearance.
- Banks must support innovative solutions to finance rebuilding.
Continued Local & State Action
- California continues pushing for faster, fairer, more inclusive recovery.
- State leaders are advocating in Washington, D.C., urging federal partners to keep their commitments.
