There are a number of state and federal resources that outline housing assistance programs available to fire survivors:

• WildFireRecovery.org: Cal OES outlines statewide wildfire recovery resources, with specific housing information available on the site.
• FEMA Housing Assistance: Survivors  with disaster-related losses can apply for disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800- 621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) anytime from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.
• Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance offers low-interest disaster loans, which are the primary source of money to pay for repair or replacement costs to return primary residences to as close to pre-disaster recovery condition. Visit buttecountyrecovers.org/sba or www.sba.gov/disaster for additional information.

In addition, there are some additional options that fire survivors can look into:

•  CampFireHousing.org: Individuals wanting to offer rental homes or available rooms to fire survivors are asked to post that information at https://www.campfirehousing.org/. Please note that Butte County cannot verify the legitimacy of these housing options. Fire survivors are encouraged to verify and research all housing opportunities before making commitments to individual homeowners/landlords.
• Airbnb Housing for Camp Fire Survivors (visit https://www.airbnb.com/welcome/evacuees/buttecounty)

We encourage residents to visit the Disaster Recovery Center or buttecountyrecovers.org/housing for more information. Community members can also call 2-1-1.

Local jurisdictions, including Butte County, the Town of Paradise and the cities of Chico, Gridley and Oroville are working together with state and federal agencies to support fire survivors through a Disaster Recovery Operations Center.

Several teams have been formed, including a Housing Division. The Housing Division serves as a single point of contact for referrals of housing solutions and/or available land.

What is the Housing Division Doing?

The Housing Division is currently:

• Evaluating land and housing options, and making appropriate referrals to state and federal agencies that best match their programs
• Evaluating data to identify short and long term housing needs
• Evaluating emergency, short and long-term housing options
• This team is working collaboratively with government agencies, as well as community organizations to review all available options.

The Housing Division encourages fire survivors who have experienced damage to register for FEMA assistance, even if they have insurance. Registering initiates various assistance programs that could be helpful, even if you may not have immediate needs