California expands mortgage relief to one year; funds limited

CALIFORNIA – The CalAssist Mortgage Fund announced February 12 an expansion of mortgage relief for homeowners impacted by qualified disasters.

The program now offers eligible households a full year of mortgage assistance that does not need to be repaid.

The expansion also increases income limits to allow more families to access this assistance.

In Los Angeles County, households earning up to $281,400 annually now qualify. Program officials say this reflects a $70,000 increase from the previous limit. In places like San Bernardino County, income limits are now $274,300.

A list of income eligibility by county can be found on the CalAssist Mortgage Fund website.

Funds are limited

The CalAssist Mortgage Fund, run by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), provides direct mortgage relief to homeowners whose primary residences are destroyed or uninhabitable due to qualifying disasters.

The Eaton, Palisades, Franklin, and Bridge fires; Tropical Storm Hilary; and the January 2024 winter storm flooding in San Diego are among the disasters eligible for the program.

Since launching in June 2025, the program has helped disaster-impacted California homeowners stabilize housing while navigating insurance claims and rising construction costs.

CalHFA encourages homeowners to apply immediately as funds are limited, and applications are reviewed in the order received.

Applications are free, and funds go directly to mortgage servicers with no repayment required.

Eligibility

Homeowners may be eligible for assistance if they:

Had their primary residence destroyed or deemed uninhabitable due to a qualified disaster between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 8, 2025.
Meet program income limits.
Have a mortgage or reverse mortgage.
Own only one single-family home, condo, or permanently affixed manufactured home (may include up to four units).

For personalized help with applications, homeowners can call 800-501-0019, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, visit https://www.calassistmortgagefund.org/