Financial Disaster Recovery

Support the Recovery Efforts in Southern California

The devastating fires in Southern California have left many individuals and families in urgent need of help. Operation HOPE invites both individuals and organizations to take action and make a meaningful impact in the recovery efforts.

NOW OPEN daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Learn more about Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles HERE.

We invite you to join us in rebuilding hope and a stronger financial future for the greater Los Angeles community. Here’s how you can help:

Ways that Corporations and Foundations can Get Involved:       PARTNER

Ways that Individuals can Get Involved:

America’s first line of response for financial recovery after a disaster.

Disaster Recovery:

HOPE Inside Disaster, powered by HOPE Coalition America (HCA), is our Financial Disaster Recovery Program designed to help you get back on your financial footing after your immediate needs for shelter, food, clothing, and medical treatment are addressed. Faced with the financial reality of property damage, job loss, business interruption, credit issues, and debt, disaster survivors need the support of HOPE Inside Disaster, powered by HOPE Coalition America –  America’s first line of response for financial recovery after a disaster.

HOPE Inside Disaster is the only financial emergency preparedness and recovery service in the country. Through partnerships with the American Red Cross, FEMA, and industry leaders, our teams deploy in response to federal-declared disasters to serve as a financial advocate for local homeowners, renters, and small business owners.

HOPE does not provide direct financial aid. However, our team works diligently with disaster victims to obtain needed resources and financial help to facilitate recovery.

Through the HOPE Crisis Hotline and HOPE Inside Disaster on-site counseling centers, our financial wellbeing coaches help survivors mitigate credit issues, develop emergency budget counseling, communicate with creditors, obtain SBA loans, prevent foreclosure, and prepare for the future. The primary services we provide include:

• • Preparation of Recovery Budgets: HOPE Disaster Coaches help individuals, families, and small businesses create recovery budgets that take into account loss of income, housing issues for renters and homeowners, loss of jobs, loss of small business revenue, and disaster related expenses. Recovery budgets are essential to maintain financial stability as you are recovering from a disaster.

• • Referrals for Disaster Assistance: After a disaster, individuals have many needs beyond financial recovery (medical assistance, food, shelter, unemployment, etc.). HOPE works with community members, government agencies, individual experts, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), faith-based organizations, and other nonprofits to refer clients to resources that meet their needs.

• • FEMA Application Assistance: HOPE Disaster Coaches help clients identify whether or not they qualify for FEMA assistance. If they qualify, coaches help clients navigate the application process.

• • Understanding the Insurance Claim Process: During many disasters, loss of property is a real consequence for many. After a loss of property, car, or small business, many clients need assistance with filing and navigating the insurance claim process. HOPE Disaster Coaches are trained to help clients successfully file insurance claims post-disaster.

• • Recovery Seminars and Case Management: Recovery group seminars and case management help disaster survivors navigate the challenges that may prevent them from successfully recovering and rebuilding. Group seminars prove effective in connecting small business owners to enable sharing and learning of best practices, collaboration, and awareness of emerging small business resources.
  • Helping Hand Fund: Operation HOPE created the Helping Hand Fund (HHF) as a one-time emergency program set up specifically for eviction relief for economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. HOPE continues to look for ways to support individuals and families in times of financial crisis. Please check back for grant opportunities should they become available.

Disaster Preparedness:

Be ready before disaster strikes. In addition to our disaster recovery services, we work with individuals, small businesses and communities to be better prepared for financial emergencies like natural disasters. Some of our preparedness tools include:

• • Emergency Financial First Aid Kit: Working with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) we have created an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to help individuals, families, and small business owners to collect important legal and financial documents in one place. This EFFAK “toolkit” provides both a framework for creating an emergency plan and crucial emergency preparedness and recovery information. You can download and print the toolkit online here.

• • Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide: This companion to the EFFAK toolkit helps clients document medical providers, prescriptions, and childcare pick-up information, and create an emergency budget. Clients can download and print the guide, available in English and Spanish.
  • Disaster Financial Recovery Score (DFR) – How ready are you for a disaster? We have developed a brief, 10-question online survey that allows you to gauge your disaster preparedness. After completing the survey, you will receive a DFR score and a personalized action plan to improve your score and find out ways to improve your ability to quickly and adequately recover financially after a disaster or emergency. You can access the survey and action plan at DFRScore.org.