California, FEMA standoff drags on as LA fire survivors lose case managers amid recovery

Support during a long recovery

Mary Landau, 78, is trying to rebuild her Altadena home, destroyed by the Eaton Fire. She lived there for nearly 50 years and says weekly help from disaster case manager Veda Ashby Romero has encouraged her to continue.

Ashby Romero has assisted with insurance claims, online forms and financial aid. She also found Landau a grant covering a year of mortgage payments; Landau said she would not have secured it without that help.

Landau’s insurance did not cover the full rebuilding cost. She faces a shortfall of at least $200,000 and still owes $225,000 on her mortgage.

What case managers do

Disaster case managers help survivors pursue rental assistance, employment and funding to cover gaps between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs. They can also offer guidance on scams, insurance disputes and FEMA appeals.

Matt Gsell, disaster recovery manager at CORE, said the recovery system is complicated and often difficult to navigate. CORE is one of five nonprofits involved in the Los Angeles program.

Funding dispute ends services

California requested $28 million for case management after the January 2025 fires. FEMA awarded $13.2 million for 24 months, divided into four equal installments, but by August had made only one payment, according to the California Department of Social Services.

The state said it had made numerous reimbursement requests and could no longer carry the costs. FEMA later repaid the outstanding amounts, but had not answered California’s March request for another $6.5 million to maintain the program amid high demand.

California plans to end the program in October. About 700 households are still waiting for services, and Rep. Judy Chu said the failure to fund the full 24 months risks leaving survivors without support.

Broader recovery concerns

The planned cutoff adds to challenges for Los Angeles communities awaiting billions of dollars in additional federal aid. The article also describes delayed FEMA payments and uneven communication as continuing concerns.

FEMA did not respond to a request for comment, though it has previously highlighted its assistance to the program. The White House has accused California of mismanaging the crisis.