Housing resources and help for victims of the LA fires

Real estate and mortgage firms are stepping up to help housing professionals and the Southern California community as wildfires ravage the area. Here’s a roundup of the companies and people offering help, which will be updated with new information as it becomes available.

Help for those in the community

Coldwell Banker Realty in Southern California, which is affiliated with Anywhere, created a Facebook group page for its network to “coordinate a wide variety of needs from short- and long-term housing, temporary housing for pets, offering up trucks for moving boxes and large items, locations where people can get Wi-Fi and charge phones, offers to help make calls for hotel accommodations and general messages of care, tips, and support,” a representative told HousingWire. 

The rep also said that all Coldwell Banker offices that have the ability to remain open in the area are being promoted and used as safe havens.

Jason Oppenheim, founder and president of The Oppenheim Group, is offering to represent anybody displaced for free. He will help them find a place to rent and will credit them with any commission paid. “This is our time to be able to give back,” Oppenheim said in an Instagram Reel posted Thursday. “As real estate agents, we have an obligation to help [people] find a place even when it’s going to be difficult.” 

Relocation assistance

Sean Bruener, founder and CEO of short-term rental company AvantStay, posted on LinkedIn that his team is stepping up for relocation support.

“If you’re in need of relocation support, we have family-friendly, pet-friendly homes available in nearby markets that are safe: Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Big Bear, San Diego, Temecula, Orange County and more,” Breuner wrote. “Please reach out to our guest experience team at reservations@avantstay.com and we will do our best to find you a landing spot.”

Airbnb is helping to connect survivors and first responders with emergency housing through a local nonprofit, 211LA. The assistance, which can be requested through an intake form, is specifically focused on residents who have either lost their homes or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas. 

Matthew Woods, CEO of Apartment List, also took to LinkedIn to pledge assistance with the company’s Home Bridge program, which helps displaced families find places to live in times of crisis. Woods’ post sent a plea to the housing community: “If you’re an owner or operator in the Los Angeles area and can donate housing, WE NEED YOUR HELP. If you’re a supplier in our industry who can provide furniture or relocation assistance, WE NEED YOUR HELP.”

Fee waiving

RentSpree, a rental platform offering tenant screening and software services, pledged to provide monetary relief. The company shared that it will refund application fees for individuals who need to rent property after damage and/or displacement due to the fires. An announcement from the company on Thursday also offered any agent, owner or landlord working with displaced residents that it would refund any application fees. 

New American Funding (NAF) will offer forbearance assistance to customers whose homes are uninhabitable or who cannot work due to the wildfires, which may come in the form of postponement of monthly payments, repayment plans or loan modifications. NAF’s Customer Care Representatives can be reached at 800.893.5304 or customercare@nafinc.com, and are available to provide information on forbearance options and assist with insurance carrier and policy information. “New American Funding (NAF) has initiated its emergency response plan due to the current wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and residents in the affected communities,” the company shared in a statement.

Help for housing professionals

KW Cares, a 501(c)(3) public charity created to support Keller Williams associates and their families in times of emergencies, is “actively working with its regional and franchise-level KW leaders via ongoing prep calls to help agents in and around the affected areas of California.” The charity is offering emergency grants, as well as supplies and assistance, for agents and their immediate families. 

Anywhere Real Estate opened the Anywhere Disaster Relief Fund through its Anywhere Gives charitable foundation to provide direct assistance to its family of employees, franchisees and independent sales agents who have been impacted by the fires.