California expands CalAssist Mortgage Fund Disaster Relief: More California families to qualify for mortgage grants 
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Oct 22, 2025

California expands CalAssist Mortgage Fund Disaster Relief: More California families to qualify for mortgage grants

Income limits increased — up to $211,050 in Los Angeles County — expanding eligibility for families rebuilding after disasters.

What you need to know: California is expanding the CalAssist mortgage relief program to help more families in Los Angeles, and across the state, access the program.

SACRAMENTO – Continuing its support for LA fire survivors, Governor Newsom announced today that the CalAssist Mortgage Fund will increase its income limits, allowing thousands more California homeowners impacted by recent disasters to qualify for mortgage relief. In Los Angeles County, survivors of the 2025 wildfires with household incomes up to $211,050 may now be eligible — a $70,000 increase from the previous threshold.

Disaster recovery isn't some off-the-shelf formula — it's community-driven and grounded in what actually works. That's why we listened to local leaders, adapting what's working and staying focused on results. Today's expansion of mortgage relief in Los Angeles underscores that commitment — because real recovery doesn't leave anyone behind.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Funded by the state of California and administered through the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), the program provides grants for three months of mortgage payments, up to $20,000 per household. Applying is free, and funds are paid directly to mortgage servicers and never have to be repaid. Today's expansion helps ensure that more families affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles are able to access this important relief.

Key program eligibility criteria:
  • Homeowners whose primary residence is destroyed or severely damaged as the result of a qualified disaster that occurred between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 8, 2025.
  • Applicants must meet the program's updated income limits. County-by-county limits are available here.
  • Eligible properties include single-family homes, condos, or permanently affixed manufactured homes (up to 4 units).
  • Applicants must have a mortgage or a reverse mortgage.

Qualified disasters include the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, Park Fire, San Diego floods, and others across the state.

Supporting LA fire survivors

Today's action continues Governor Newsom's ongoing work to help Los Angeles-fire survivors. Earlier this month, the Governor signed a bipartisan package of bills to support the ongoing rebuilding and recovery efforts in Los Angeles after the devastating fires earlier this year. The legislation also strengthens the state's response and recovery posture for future disasters,  including by codifying numerous actions the Governor has taken to protect Los Angeles fire survivors, ensuring that these protections also benefit survivors of future disasters.

California's all-in efforts

Since the first day these firestorms ignited, Governor Newsom has been on the ground leading an all-in state response and recovery.

The Governor deployed resources before the hurricane-force fires broke out – growing to over 16,000 boots on the ground at the peak of the state's response. And in the hours that followed, Governor Newsom launched historic recovery and rebuilding efforts to help Los Angeles get back on its feet, faster.

Even before the fires were out, Governor Newsom worked closely with outgoing President Joe Biden to secure a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and then coordinated with the Trump Administration to ensure comprehensive federal support for Los Angeles.

Only July 7, just six months after the fires ignited, Governor Newsom announced the substantial completion of the public debris removal program from more than 10,000 fire damaged parcels — marking the fastest major disaster cleanup in American history.

State and federal officials worked hand in glove to clear hazardous waste from 9,000 homes in less than 30 days. At the project's peak, as many as 500 crews of expert heavy equipment operators from the Army Corps of Engineers worked around the clock to rapidly clear ash, soot, and fire debris from structures damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

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By the numbers
  • 16,000 first responders and recovery personnel deployed
  • $2.57 billion in Small Business Administration Assistance approved.
  • $159 million in individual assistance disbursed
  • 30 days to clear properties of hazardous waste
  • 9,195 properties cleared of debris
  • 8 of 8 schools resumed in person instruction
  • 9 of 9 water systems reactivated  

California's historic recovery and rebuilding efforts

The Governor has helped accelerate recovery in the Los Angeles area by:
  • Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger: The Governor issued executive orders streamlining the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor's executive orders. The Governor also issued an executive order removing administrative barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.
  • Providing tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the fires: California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline. The Governor also worked with state and federally-chartered banks that have committed to providing mortgage relief for survivors in certain zip codes, as well as announced a $125 million mortgage relief package for homeowners impacted by the Los Angeles fires and other recent disasters.
  • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants: To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibited landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=5fad1c8253&e=0b26ba1b5c) to help mitigate risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas.
  • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging: Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=876a01474a&e=0b26ba1b5c), and building materials or construction (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=e47c1d978c&e=0b26ba1b5c).
  • Directing immediate state relief: The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=b45c208805&e=0b26ba1b5c) to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=3368922576&e=0b26ba1b5c) as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=d90dcd1e27&e=0b26ba1b5c). The Governor also launched LA Rises (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=3af5ea835f&e=0b26ba1b5c), a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts. Governor Newsom announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires living in certain zip codes may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=2a8d45645f&e=0b26ba1b5c).
  • Getting kids back in the classroom: Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=8279e45925&e=0b26ba1b5c) in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
  • Protecting victims from real estate speculators: The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=e2fc694f94&e=0b26ba1b5c) in the immediate aftermath of losing their homes from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited below-market cash offers to purchase their property.
  • Helping businesses and workers get back on their feet: The Governor issued an executive order to support small businesses and workers (https://mclist.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=afffa58af0d1d42fee9a20e55&id=ba410937b7&e=0b26ba1b5c), by providing relief to help businesses recover quickly by deferring annual licensing fees and waiving other requirements that may impose barriers to recovery.

Press releases (https://www.gov.ca.gov/category/press-releases/), Recent news (https://www.gov.ca.gov/category/recent-news/)

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