Government funding and support for individuals and households

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About government funding and support for individuals and households 

There are Federal and State programs that offer funding to assist with disaster recovery for individuals and households. Each program has its own application and approval process. It is important to make sure that frontline communities have access to these resources. 

From the Federal government 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Individual Assistance 

• Who: Eligible individuals and households in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas (determine this on DisasterAssistance.gov). Eligible individuals must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens. A household can apply if another household member, including a minor, is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. 

• What: For temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster. Capped at $35,000 per household.  

• How to apply: Go to DisasterAssistance.gov.  

• How to prepare: 

  • Use this brochure to understand the whole process of seeking help from FEMA.

  • If you have insurance, file the claim first. You will need your insurance determination letter to continue with FEMA. 

  • Collect all your documentation, including proof of identity, proof of ownership, and photos of the damage. Use this checklist.  

  • FEMA will come to your house to inspect the damage, and then they will make a recommendation. Know that this process will take some time.  

  • You have the right to appeal FEMA’s decision within 60 days.  

  • If you reach the maximum amount of assistance from FEMA, they will transfer your application to the California State Supplemental Grant Program for additional assistance. 

• Impact on frontline communities: 

  • People who are undocumented are not eligible. Those with citizen children under the age of 18 are eligible.

  • FEMA Individual Assistance has historically disproportionately benefited white homeowners  

Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Disaster loans 

• Who: Businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas. SBA also has its own authority to declare disasters in areas that can meet a lower threshold in circumstances where at least 25 businesses or homes have uninsured losses of at least 40 percent based on their pre-disaster fair market value within a county or jurisdiction. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens. 

• What: Low-interest loans to help businesses, homeowners, renters recover. Here’s a breakdown of assistance types. 

• How to apply: Go to https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov 

• How to prepare: 

  • If you have insurance, file the claim first, but don’t wait for it to settle to apply for an SBA loan. 

  • Read this fact sheet to understand what to expect.  

  • Use this visual to understand the three-step process.  

• Impact on frontline communities: 

  • The SBA approves disaster loans only when it has “reasonable assurance” that a borrower will repay the money, relying on credit score as an indication. This results in racial disparities in who receives loans. 

  • People who are undocumented are not eligible. Those with citizen children under the age of 18 are eligible.

Department of Agriculture’s Disaster assistance and loan programs 

• Who: Farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that a disaster has hard hit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens, or, in some cases, a State or Tribal entity.  

• What: Both loans and emergency assistance. Here’s a list of programs. This Disaster Recovery Tool can help you find what programs you might be eligible for after a disaster. 

• How to apply: Find your local Service Center and connect with the people there. 

• How to prepare: 

  • Learn about all disaster recovery options from the USDA. 

  • Have proof of identity, copy of deed or lease, any trust documents, as well as documents showing inventory and any losses. 

• Impact on frontline communities: 

  • Challenges and recommendations from Farmaid.org. 

  • The California Alliance of Family Farmers works to help farmers that do not receive government aid. 

  • People who are undocumented are not eligible. Those with citizen children under the age of 18 are eligible.

Fannie Mae’s disaster counseling 

• Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1938 to provide a reliable source of affordable mortgage financing across the country. The federal government created GSEs to help stabilize the financial market. Fannie Mae offers disaster counseling for homeowners and renters.  

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 

• The FHA is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders. If you have an FHA-insured mortgage, you might be eligible for relief. 

There are many other potential sources of Federal funding that might be available to you. This Find Assistance Tool on DisasterAssistance.gov may help you narrow down options that you’re eligible for after a Presidentially Declared Disaster. 

From and in the State of California 

• Use this Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Californians from Bay Legal Aid. 

• Use this Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians from Bay Legal Aid. 

• United Policy Holders is a non-profit whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and an effective voice for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. They provide free insurance and decision-making guidance, tools, and resources to people, businesses, and communities.  

Actions to take for community-based organizations, local government, and philanthropy 

• Be persistent with the bureaucracy of government disaster aid.  Receiving the support you need and deserve can take time and a lot of paperwork.  Try to stay as organized as possible during this time, document everything, save copies, and seek help from your network and community support if you are having trouble with the process.   

• For community-based organizations, government, and philanthropy: consider creating or funding services to help disaster survivors apply for aid and navigate the complex bureaucracy, especially for frontline communities.  

• Share information about ways to get funding and support with your networks and with community members.  

• Advocate for changes to these programs to better serve frontline communities. Call your representatives about the challenges that come up in your communities. 

• Work together to set up mutual aid systems throughout communities to fill in the gaps left by these programs.