LA County to Launch Emergency Rent Relief Program for Residents Impacted by 2025 Wildfires and Financial Hardship

After a year marked by devastating wildfires, displacement, and mounting financial pressures for Los Angeles County residents, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) announced today that applications for the Emergency Rent Relief Program will open on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, January 23, 2026, at 4:59 PM PST.

Directed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and administered by DCBA in partnership with The Center by Lendistry (TCbL), this new program will distribute more than $23 million in rental and mortgage relief to eligible landlords and homeowners affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and other wildfires, as well as households facing new financial pressures tied to federal actions.

Anyone interested can review eligibility requirements, sign up for updates (including a link to the application portal when it opens), and access the application once open directly at lacountyrentrelief.com.

Relief to Help Families Stay Housed
The Emergency Rent Relief Program will provide financial assistance to:

• Eligible Landlords whose tenants were unable to pay rent due to emergency-related hardship, or whose rental units were directly affected by the wildfires and remain vacant due to needed repairs, and
• Displaced Homeowners who lost their homes in the wildfires and are now renting elsewhere while facing unpaid rent, unpaid mortgages, or other qualified expenses caused by recent emergencies.

Grants may cover up to six months of debt, with a maximum award of $15,000 per rental unit in most cases.

"When families are pushed into debt by unexpected disasters and financial hardships, the risk of losing their housing becomes very real. This program gives residents a fighting chance to stay in their homes and regain their stability. It's one of the most important investments we can make in the well-being and resilience of Los Angeles County" said DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal.

To ensure access for all communities, the application will be available in multiple languages, with free in-language technical assistance available daily from 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM PST starting Wednesday, December 17. Limited weekend support will be available by appointment only.

Prioritizing the Most Impacted Communities
Applications will be evaluated using a prioritized review process to ensure relief reaches those most impacted. Priority consideration will be given to:

• Small landlords who own four or fewer units,
• Applicants in high- and highest-need areas, as identified by the LA County Equity Explorer Tool, and
• Households with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Who May Qualify
Although the benefits of this program ultimately help tenants stay housed, tenants cannot apply directly; their landlord must submit the application, and all funds are paid to the landlord to clear eligible rental debt.

The program covers three main groups:

• Wildfire-Impacted Tenants: Renters who lived in their unit before the January 7 wildfires and experienced financial loss from the fires (e.g. reduced work hours, job loss, or business disruption), may receive up to six months of wildfire-related rent debt relief through their landlord's application.
• Wildfire-Impacted Populations: This includes tenants with verifiable wildfire-related income loss, displaced homeowners who have fallen behind in rent after exhausting FEMA or insurance rental assistance, and small landlords repairing fire-damaged units. Most groups may receive up to six months of eligible costs, not to exceed $15,000 per unit (with limited exceptions).
• Households Facing Emergency Economic Hardship: Renters countywide who experienced sudden income loss due to emergency conditions, including federal actions, may also qualify for up to six months of assistance, capped at $15,000.

"This program offers meaningful help to people who have been working hard to stay housed through an incredibly challenging year," said Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, President and CEO of The Center by Lendistry. "Our partnership with the County reflects our shared commitment to supporting households across Los Angeles and directing relief to people facing real financial strain."

For program updates, visit LACountyRentRelief.com and follow @LACountyDCBA on social media.