Full Breakdown
Los Angeles Fire Survivors Face Loss of Disaster Case Managers Amid California-FEMA Funding Standoff
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Fallout for Affected Households
Approximately 1,400 households still rebuilding after the January 2025 Los Angeles fires are slated to lose their federally funded disaster case managers by the end of October. The program, run by the nonprofit CORE, has helped survivors like 78-year-old Mary Landau navigate insurance claims, secure grants, and obtain rental assistance. Without case managers, many fear the “safety net” that has kept their recovery on track will disappear.
Funding Dispute Between California and FEMA
After the fires, California requested $28 million to fund case management for a 24-month period. FEMA approved only $13.2 million, to be paid in four equal installments. By August, FEMA had made just one payment, leaving the state to cover the remaining costs despite “numerous requests” for reimbursement, according to the California Department of Social Services. A March request for an additional $6.5 million went unanswered. Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) reported that FEMA also failed to answer follow-up questions from her office. The funding gap prompted California to announce the program’s closure at the end of October.
Impact on Survivors and Nonprofits
- More than 100 case managers risk losing their jobs.
- CORE is transferring roughly 200 of its 450 active clients to other nonprofits, while 700 households remain on a waitlist.
- Landau still faces a rebuilding shortfall of at least $200,000 and owes $225,000 on her mortgage.
- Bree Jensen, spokesperson for the Eaton Fire Collaborative, warned that local nonprofits are “overloaded” and cannot absorb all displaced clients.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House has said California “mismanaged the crisis,” while spokesperson Lauren Bis asserted that the Trump administration has already obligated billions of dollars for Los Angeles recovery. Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has asked President Donald Trump and Congress for $15.7 billion—down from an earlier $33 billion request—to rebuild more than 16,000 destroyed structures. Newsom’s appeal has not yet resulted in a supplemental disaster request from the administration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She said, ‘You can do this,’” — Mary Landau, a fire survivor, at the CORE resource center on Thursday, Oct
- “I would never have gotten it without her,” — Mary Landau, a fire survivor, at the CORE resource center on Thursday, Oct
- “The recovery process is very complicated, and a lot of the systems are not designed to make it easy for people,” — Matt Gsell
- “We can’t go month to month,” — Gsell. CORE, disaster case manager