After a disaster, we can help you regain your financial footing.
PROJECT RESTORE HOPE LOS ANGELES
Operation HOPE is committed to supporting the relief efforts in southern California and the surrounding areas. If you are small business owner or individual in need of our financial disaster recovery services, please register using the link below, and a member of HOPE team will contact you. You can also contact us by calling 888-388-HOPE.
Register for Help Now Project restore HOPE – LA | ONE YEAR LATER
January 7, 2026 marks one year since the Altadena fires changed lives across Los Angeles.
Through HOPE Inside Disaster and Project Restore HOPE – LA, Operation HOPE, our partners, and supporters have helped the community that first helped incubate our mission.
Over the past year:
- 701 individuals received direct financial recovery support
- 226 disaster recovery and preparedness plans were completed
- 49 FEMA/SBA applications were supported, including 30 appeals
- Survivors saw an average 50% increase in financial readiness
“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend,” Alisha shared. “There is support that has no agenda, but to help.”
Alisha is a Pacific Palisades resident whose home remained standing after the fires, but was left uninhabitable due to smoke damage and hazardous materials. Facing displacement, health risks, and a stalled insurance process, Alisha turned to HOPE Inside Disaster for guidance and advocacy.
With the support of a HOPE Disaster Recovery Coach, she navigated FEMA and insurance barriers, evaluated remediation options, and ultimately avoided more than $120,000 in unnecessary costs, regaining not just her home, but her sense of agency and direction.
“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend,” Alisha shared. “There is support that has no agenda, but to help.”
This work would not be possible without corporate and community partners like Wells Fargo, Global Empowerment Mission, and others, who believe that recovery must be local, long-term, and equitable. Through the collective effort of our partners, donors, and volunteers, we’ve been able to stand up HOPE Inside Disaster services in wildfire-impacted communities, ensuring survivors have access to trusted financial guidance when they need it most.
MEET OUR COACHES
As a Disaster Operations Coach and Coordinator in Los Angeles, Andrew’s job is to spread awareness of the disaster relief that Operation HOPE offers and support clients with coaching and resources.
When asked why he does this work, Andrew said, “disaster disrupts more than just physical possessions; it unsettles the financial stability and systems people depend on. Before joining Operation HOPE, I worked as a consultant helping general contractors strengthen their businesses. Now, I support small business recovery and assist survivors in rebuilding solid financial foundations through personalized counseling and resource navigation. My mission is to help survivors regain control and confidence, transforming uncertainty into actionable steps toward a stronger, more resilient future.”
Niki, a Disaster Operations Coach and Coordinator in Los Angeles, helps survivors with small businesses to understand their options and resources to rebuild.
When asked why she does this work, Niki said, “I believe in the strength of the LA community and the resilience of small business owners here. With my banking background, I know how important it is to have access to resources and financial stability. Being able to help entrepreneurs get back on their feet and rebuild their businesses honestly gives me such a sense of purpose.”
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.
OPEN daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
| Eastside | Westside |
|---|---|
| Altadena Disaster Recovery Center 540 W. Woodbury Rd. Altadena, CA 91001 |
UCLA Research Park West 10850 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 |
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:
Operation HOPE is here to help connect you with the resources and information you need to recover from financial disaster.
Your gift will help support HOPE disaster recovery initiatives and the communities that need it most.
Support survivors by joining our Disaster Response Team to bring hope and renewal to those in need.
America’s first line of response for financial recovery after a disaster.
If you have just experienced a natural disaster or are in need of shelter, food, clothing or medical care, please reach out to your local American Red Cross chapter and your local authorities who should be able to direct you on how to get immediate assistance.
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:
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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:
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- 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.
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- 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.
Support Disaster Survivors
Disasters are unexpected and devastating so we want to always be prepared to help those in need. To assist us in these efforts, please consider becoming a supporter of our HOPE Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Program.
Quick Links to Preparedness Resources
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