CalAssist Mortgage Fund Program
Homeowner funding for disaster relief
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is a mortgage relief program to help eligible homeowners whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable due to recent disasters.
The grant may cover up to 12 months of mortgage payments, with a maximum of $100,000 total per eligible household. Funds are sent directly to the lender and do not need to be paid back.
More information
Here’s what you need to know about the CalAssist Mortgage Fund:
- Eligible homeowners can receive up to one year of mortgage payments, up to $100,000.
- Applying is free and grants do not need to be repaid.
- Approved grants will be sent directly the mortgage servicer.
- Funds will be awarded for as long as they are available.
- Applications will be reviewed in the order they are submitted.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the CalAssist Mortgage Fund Program includes:
- Applicant’s primary residence was destroyed or left uninhabitable due to a qualified disaster from January 1, 2023 through January 8, 2025.
- Applicant has a mortgage or reverse mortgage.
- Applicant owns a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home.
- Applicant meets program income limits of $281,400 for the County of LA as a maximum income for all family members on the deed of trust.*
*Income limits to determine eligibility are set by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
How to apply
Here’s how to apply for the CalAssist Mortgage Fund Program:
- Review the list of qualified disasters for this program to ensure you qualify.
- Confirm the program’s income limits (vary by County).
- Check to see if your mortgage servicer is participating.
- Gather the paperwork required for the application.
Required documents
Prepare your documents in advance by gathering the following:
- Most recent mortgage statement
- Proof of identification
- Bank statements (all accounts for 2 months prior to application submission date)
- Last utility bill available for the damaged property
- Income documentation (i.e. paystubs, tax returns, or unemployment verification)
We can help
Our team of certified financial counselors stands ready to help with the application process. Here’s how you can get in touch:
- Email us at [email protected]
- Call us at (213)-381-2862
- Book at appointment at The Collaboratory. 540 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena, CA, 91001.
FAQs (click here to download as a PDF)
General
Am I still eligible for assistance if I live on the property or in my home? How do I know if my house is severely damaged to the point it has been deemed uninhabitable?
Regardless of where you are currently living, the program must verify that the home is destroyed or severely damaged to the point it has been deemed uninhabitable. As part of this verification process, the program may require additional documentation such as:
- Insurance Carrier Claim Acceptance Letter
- Insurance Adjuster Assessment
- FEMA Award Letter
- City or County Tag
If you are unsure if your property meets the program’s destroyed or severely damaged qualification, we encourage you to apply. During the application review process, CalAssist Mortgage Fund staff may reach out with requests for documentation. If you have questions about the program’s eligibility criteria, please call 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
How do I know if I was impacted by a Qualified Disaster?
Eligible homeowners must be currently displaced because their home was destroyed or left uninhabitable as the result of a disaster that occurred between January 1, 2023, and January 8, 2025, and was subject to a Governor-proclaimed state of emergency or a Presidential disaster declaration. The full list of Qualified Disasters, which includes, for example, the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the 2024 Park Fire in Butte, Tehama and Plumas counties, can be found here.
Who is eligible?
The program is open to eligible Californians whose homes are destroyed or severely damaged to the point they have been deemed uninhabitable as the result of a California disaster.
You may eligible if:
- Your primary residence is destroyed or severely damaged to the point it has been deemed uninhabitable as the result of a qualified disaster that occurred between Jan. 1 2023, and Jan. 8, 2025
- Examples include the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the Park Fire in Butte, Tehama and Plumas counties
- You are below the program’s income limits
- You have a mortgage or reverse mortgage
- You only own one residential property
- Your property is a 1-4 unit single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home
What information does an applicant need to provide?
Applicants must complete an online application, which can be started by clicking the “Apply Now” button on this website.
Homeowners must upload documents as part of the application process, including, but not limited to:
- Most recent mortgage statement
- Proof of identification
- Bank statements
- Last utility bill available for the damaged property
- Income documentation (i.e. paystubs, tax returns, or unemployment verification)
Depending on their unique circumstances, some applicants may have to provide additional information.
How much assistance is available to me?
Grants to eligible homeowners will cover 1 year of mortgage payments, not to exceed $100,000. For eligible reverse mortgage borrowers, grants will cover servicer-advanced property charges, up to a maximum of $100,000.
The assistance provided through this program is not a loan and does not need to be paid back.
Will receiving this assistance affect my taxes?
Homeowners who receive these grants will receive a 1099-G.
Homeowners should talk with a qualified tax professional about the impact this may have on their income taxes.
Am I still eligible if I am currently in forbearance or delinquent on my mortgage or in a property charge default on my reverse mortgage?
Homeowners who are currently in forbearance or delinquent, including foreclosure, may still be eligible for the CalAssist Mortgage Fund.
Am I still eligible if I have already received other government assistance from the disaster?
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is open to homeowners even if they have received government assistance including, but not limited to, FEMA disaster assistance, and disaster loans authorized under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act. However, homeowners who apply remain responsible for ensuring compliance with other programs’ duplication of benefits requirements.
Homeowners are encouraged to consult with the agency administrator(s) and a qualified tax professional to ensure there are no unintended consequences from receiving this assistance.
Am I still eligible if I have already received proceeds from a property insurance claim?
Homeowners may still be eligible for the CalAssist Mortgage Fund even if they have received proceeds from a property insurance claim, so long as the homeowner still has a mortgage. However, homeowners are encouraged to consult with their insurance provider and a qualified tax professional to ensure there are no unintended consequences from receiving this assistance.
Am I eligible if I have servicer-advanced property taxes or insurance payments on my reverse mortgage?
Homeowners with property tax or insurance payments on their reverse mortgage that were advanced by their mortgage servicer may be eligible for assistance.
How do I find out the income requirement in my county?
The household income limit for the program varies by county. Applicants will provide the combined income for all people named on the mortgage and/or the deed of trust.
If you have questions about the income limit for your county, call the Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
If my Application Questionnaire results say that I am not eligible, can I still fill out an application?
If the Application Questionnaire says you don’t qualify for assistance, it is likely that you do not meet the requirements for this program. However, if you feel you have entered information incorrectly or if your circumstances change, you may re-enter your information into the Application Questionnaire to see if you may be eligible to apply.
You can also locate a HUD-certified housing counselor to assist with your application by calling 800-569-4287 or checking online at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.
My mortgage servicer is not listed as a program participant. Can I still apply to the program?
Yes, you may still apply to the program. Your application will be placed on hold while CalAssist Mortgage Fund staff reach out to your servicer to request that they participate in the program. Because program guidelines dictate that funding for approved applications goes directly to the mortgage servicer, we cannot process the application if your servicer does not participate.
If your servicer joins the program within a few weeks, we will notify you and reopen your application for review. If your servicer is not responsive and does not decide to join the program, your application will be canceled. If your servicer later joins the program, we will notify you so you can submit a new application for review.
The list of current participating servicers can be found here.
The CalAssist Mortgage Fund already awarded me 3 months of mortgage payments. Am I eligible to receive additional payments? What do I need to do?
All approved homeowners can now receive up to 12 months of assistance from the CalAssist Mortgage Fund. Homeowners who received an award from the program before February 2026 may be eligible for additional assistance up to a total of 12 months of mortgage payments. The process is easy and you don’t need to reapply. You will need to log back into your application to confirm that you would like to receive additional funding.
For details on how to receive the full award amount, please call the Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Application and Review Process
Where can I complete my application?
You can check to see if you are eligible to apply for the CalAssist Mortgage Fund by clicking the “Apply Now” button. Homeowners who complete the Application Questionnaire and meet the eligibility criteria may complete an application.
Where can I get assistance for filling out the application?
If you need help filling out the online application, you can call our Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also locate a HUD-certified housing counselor to assist with your application by calling 800-569-4287 or checking online at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.
Is there a deadline to apply?
The program will remain open as long as there are funds available. While there is not currently an application deadline, funds are limited, so apply today.
How long will it take to review my application?
It may take several weeks to review completed applications with all required documentation. Be sure to regularly check the email you used for the application – requests for additional information or updates on your application status will be sent by email.
If you have questions about your application, call 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Once my application is approved, how long will it take to receive financial assistance?
Once an application is approved, the CalAssist Mortgage Fund staff will send the assistance directly to your mortgage servicer. We will work closely with your mortgage servicer to ensure the payment is processed, and we are committed to helping homeowners as quickly as possible. You will receive a notification from the program when funds have been properly applied to your account.
My application was denied. Is there an appeals process? Can I reapply?
If your application was denied, you may reapply to the program. Alternatively, if you want to appeal the decision, you have 30 calendar days after the date you are notified of the decision to submit an appeal through the online application.
Can I apply again if my application was canceled for taking more than 60 days to complete?
Yes, if your application was canceled, you can re-apply by visiting the CalAssist Mortgage Fund website and clicking the “Apply Now” button. Once you begin your application, you have 60 calendar days to complete it. After 60 days, the application will be canceled.
If I cannot finish my application at one time, can I start it now and finish it later?
Yes, you can save your progress and come back to finish the application as long as you provide all required documentation and submit the application within 60 calendar days.
Technical Assistance
Is there a paper application I can fill out and mail in?
Applications must be completed online. If you need help filling out the online application, you can call our Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also locate a HUD-certified housing counselor to assist with your application by calling 800-569-4287 or checking online at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.
Which languages is the application available in?
The application is available in over 100 languages.
If you require language assistance, you can call our Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also locate a HUD-certified housing counselor to assist with your application by calling 800-569-4287 or checking online at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.
If I don’t have a scanner, can I use my phone to take a picture of my ID and other documents and upload them to my application?
Yes, digital photos of documents are considered equivalent to scanned documents. Make sure that the photos are taken in good lighting and are readable.
Once I finish my application, will I still be able to access it if I need to make changes?
Once you submit your application, it will be transferred for review, and you will no longer be able to make changes. However, if you would like to make changes or add documents after submitting the application, please call our Contact Center at 800-501-0019, Monday – Friday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wildfire Survivor Resources
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