Survivors Need Recovery Aid, Not More Debt

Governor Newsom’s May Revision includes a proposed $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Fund intended to expand access to construction and renovation financing for disaster-impacted homeowners. Recovery advocates are raising concerns that the proposal is structured around loans, loan guarantees, and interest-rate buydowns rather than direct aid to survivors. Fire survivors cannot borrow their way out of a climate disaster. EFRU and allied recovery partners continue to call for direct investment in community recovery, including the CARE Fund, housing stabilization, rebuilding gap support, land preservation, and remediation resources that actually reach displaced residents.
Action: Support recovery the CARE Fund that provides direct aid and prevents permanent displacement.