Disaster Assistance Project

We provide free, legal help for individuals and families harmed by natural disasters including fires, earthquakes and floods. NLSLA has been helping people recover from natural disasters since the Northridge Earthquake. This includes help with disaster related issues like filing of claims with FEMA, housing, benefits, and other issues.

What We Can Help With

FEMA and SBA
Tenant Rights
Mobile Home
Benefits
Unemployment
Health Insurance
Consumer Protections

Resources for 2025 Wildfire Survivors

California Updates & Resources
Los Angeles Updates & Resources
Disaster Recovery Centers
In-person services are available from many state and local departments and non-profits.
FEMA Updates
The Federal Government approved a Major Disaster Declaration on January 7th, so individual assistance flows to eligible survivors. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) applications are due March 10th.
Employment (EDD)
EDD has waived the one-week waiting period to apply for benefits.

Disaster unemployment is available. Apply with EDD through March 10, 2025.
CalFresh Updates
CalFresh for Hot Food: You can use CalFresh to buy hot/prepared food from grocery stores (not restaurants) until March 10, 2025.

Food replacement: If you already get CalFresh benefits and lost food as a result of destruction or power outages related to the wildfires starting January 7, 2025, you can request one month worth of CalFresh to replace it. The application deadline is March 6, 2025.

Disaster-CalFresh (D-SNAP): If you do not get CalFresh now and you lived or worked in a fire-impacted area on January 7, 2025, you can get one month worth of CalFresh benefits based on your household size ($975 for a household of four). The income limit is higher than regular CalFresh and there are no immigration requirements. The application windows are February 10-14 and February 18-19, 2025.

People already on CalFresh living in the covered zip codes do not need to apply for Disaster CalFresh, and will receive automatic supplemental benefits.