LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund

Student Grant Eligibility

Grants for LACCD Students

This webpage is to assist LACCD students in understanding the priorities and criteria for direct-aid emergency relief grants from the LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund, a program of the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges to support current LACCD students impacted directly by the January 2025 wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

How to Apply

Based on the criteria below, if you believe you may be eligible for this funding, but have not yet applied or do not have access to the online application, please contact us using this form.

As of June 2025, the Foundation is only funding new applicants who meet the Phase 3 criteria list below.  

We understand that all forms of impact are challenging, and we are committed to reviewing each application with care. If you're unsure whether your situation meets the priority criteria, we still encourage you to contact us — and include as much detail as possible to help us understand your needs. 

About the Funding Opportunity

The LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund grant program provides financial relief for LACCD students and employees impacted by the January 2025 wildfires in LA County. This funding is intended to provide emergency disaster relief and, as such, generally may not be considered taxable income and is unlikely to impact eligibility for public benefits, including financial aid. However, individual circumstances may vary. Recipients should consult with a tax professional or their benefits provider to understand any potential implications specific to their situation. The Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges and its partners are not responsible for any impacts on taxes or benefits resulting from the acceptance of this grant.

The LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund program is intended to address unmet financial needs and promote the well-being, enrollment and/or employment of LACCD students and employees impacted by the January 2025 wildfires in LA County. Funding is not to duplicate other assistance received for the same expenses, including FEMA aid, insurance, or other relief programs. By means of applying for assistance, recipients certify that they have unmet financial needs not fully covered by other sources. For questions on how this grant may impact other aid, consult with the agency handling your aid application, seek legal aid, or speak with a tax professional.

Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The Foundation reserves the right to decline applicants and/or applications for any reason, including but not limited to: 1) concerns regarding the accuracy and/or authenticity of the application or claims 2) inability to verify the information or claims provided, 3) the prioritization of funding to cases and applicants deemed highest need or priority, 4) limited funding, 5) order in which applications or additional requests for verification of status or claims are received, 6) incomplete submissions, 7) duplicate submissions, 8) change in LACCD enrollment status, and 9) lack of clear alignment with funding purpose and terms. Applicants may submit one appeal to the Review Committee. The determination of the Review Committee following an appeal is final. 

Questions

Please direct any questions to disasterfund@laccd.edu

Other Assistance

If you were not impacted by the January 2025 wildfires, or wish to explore other opportunities to support your educational journey, you may access scholarships and other financial assistance programs at this link. 

Phase 3 Grant Eligibility Criteria (June 2025)

The focus of Phase 3 funding is current and returning students who continue to experience long-term housing displacement due to the January 2025 fires.  

As such, beginning June 2025:

  • Only students impacted by the Eaton or Palisades fires will be eligible for Phase 3 funding.  While there were several fires in Los Angeles in early January 2025, damage and distribution of housing was largely concentrated in the Eaton and Palisades fires.   

  • Only students whose primary residence was destroyed or sustained significant damage, resulting in longer-term displacement (more than 1 month) and/or significant damage (more than $25,000 in cleaning, replacement, or repair costs) will be eligible for Phase 3 funding. 

To be eligible for a Phase 3 grant, applicants must meet one of the two following profiles:

  1. Current LACCD students whose primary residence was destroyed or sustained significant damage in the Eaton or Palisades fires.

    • For the purpose of Phase 3 funding, current student is defined as enrolled in at least one for-credit or non-credit course in the Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 term at one or more of LACCD’s nine colleges (East, West, Southwest, Mission, Valley, Pierce, Trade-Tech, Harbor, and/or City). 

    • For the purpose of this application, primary residence is the main location in which you were living as of January 7, 2025, regardless of whether you owned, rented, or were a short-term or long-term guest of the residence.  

    • For the purpose of this application, the address of the impacted residence must be listed as destroyed, damaged, within the burn scar, or within 1 mile of the burn scar on LA County’s maps of structures impacted by the Eaton or Palisades.   

    • Applicants who note a primary residence that does not match the address on file in their LACCD student record as of January 2025 may be required to provide additional documentation to verify that the impacted location was their primary residence at the time of the wildfires.  

    2. Returning LACCD students whose primary residence was destroyed or sustained significant damage in the Eaton or Palisades fires and who paused their studies or withdrew from LACCD as a result of the fires.  

    • For the purpose of Phase 3 funding, a returning student is defined as: 

      • Had been enrolled in at least one for-credit or non-credit course in Fall 2024, Winter 2024, or Spring 2025 at any of LACCD’s nine colleges (East, West, Southwest, Mission, Valley, Pierce, Trade-Tech, Harbor, and/or City), AND 

      • Withdrew or otherwise paused their studies as a result of the fires, AND 

      • Are now registered in at least one for-credit or non-credit course in the Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 terms at any of LACCD’s nine colleges (East, West, Southwest, Mission, Valley, Pierce, Trade-Tech, Harbor, and/or City).  

    • For the purpose of this application, primary residence is the main location in which you were living as of January 7, 2025, regardless of whether you owned, rented, or were a short-term or long-term guest of the residence.  

    • For the purpose of this application, the address of the impacted residence must be listed as destroyed, damaged, within the burn scar, or within 1 mile of the burn scar on LA County’s maps of structures impacted by the Eaton or Palisades.   

    • The address of the impacted residence must match the address on file in their LACCD student record as of January 2025. Applicants who note a primary residence that does not match the address on file in their LACCD student record as of January 2025 may be required to provide additional documentation to verify that the impacted location was their primary residence at the time of the wildfires.  

How to Apply

  • Current and returning LACCD students whose address matches the criteria above will be contacted by the Foundation, via their LACCD email address, and provided a personalized link to apply for a Phase 3 grant.  

  • Applicants previously awarded funding under Phase 1 from the LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund between January 2025 – May 2025 will be contacted by the Foundation if they may be eligible to receive additional funding under Phase 3. 

  • Applicants previously awarded funding under Phase 2 from the LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund between January 2025 – May 2025 are not eligible for a Phase 3 grant.  

Additional Information 

  • As of May 2025, the Foundation is no longer funding impacts due to temporary evacuation or other impacts. As of June 2025, the Foundation is only funding new applicants who meet the Phase 3 criteria.  

  • Under Phase 3, applicants must be current or returning students, as described above. New students whose first class(es) at LACCD will be in Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 are NOT eligible.  

  • Dual enrollment students are not eligible.  

  • Applicants will be notified of their status within three weeks of submission of their application.  

  • Please do not submit more than one application for this Phase 3 Grant. Duplicate applications may be flagged as potential fraud, and their review slowed or denied. 

Phase 2 Grant Eligibility Criteria (May 2025) - This funding cycle has closed to new applicants

Please note: As of May 2025, we are no longer funding costs due to temporary evacuation, as defined as costs associated with displacement from primary residence for less than 7 days due to mandatory evacuation orders.  

Applicants must meet all of the criteria noted below to be eligible for these Phase 2 Grants. 

  1. Current LACCD Student in Spring 2025 Term 

    • For Phase 2 Grants, applicants must be current LACCD students as defined as enrolled in at least one for-credit or non-credit course in the current, Spring 2025 term, at one or more of LACCD’s nine colleges (East, West, Southwest, Mission, Valley, Pierce, Trade-Tech, Harbor, and/or City).

    • Dual enrollment students are not eligible for this funding at this time. 

  2. Experienced significant housing, property, employment, or other impacts as a direct result of the January 2025 wildfires in LA County. Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Housing Loss or Displacement - Your primary residence was destroyed or damaged in the January 2025 wildfires.

    • Applicants who note damage to a residence not listed on LA County’s maps of structures impacted by the Eaton or Palisades fires may be required to provide additional documentation to verify damage. 

    • Applicants who note a primary residence that does not match the address on file in their LACCD student record as of January 2025 may be required to provide additional documentation to verify that the impacted location was their primary residence at the time of the wildfires. 

    • For the purpose of this application, primary residence may include the main location in which you were living as of January 7, 2025, regardless of if you owned, rented, or were a short-term or long-term guest of the residence. 

  • Property Loss or Damage - You experienced significant loss of personal property as a result of the January 2025 wildfires. This may include damage to personal belongings due to smoke or ash, destroyed vehicles, or other loss of property as a direct result of the fires. 

    • Applicants who note damage to a residence that is more than 1 mile from the burn scar as depicted on LA County’s maps of structures impacted by the Eaton or Palisades fires may be required to provide additional documentation to verify damage. 

  • Job or Income Loss - You experienced a temporary or permanent loss of employment or income as a direct result of the fires. 

    • Applicants will be required to list the relevant business or employer, the address or location of the employment, provide contact information for the employer, and may be required to submit additional information to verify their current or prior employment and how the January 2025 wildfires directly impacted these activities.

  • Childcare, K-12 schooling, or other Essential Services Disruption or Loss - Your household and/or immediate family experienced a disruption in childcare, K-12 schooling, or other essential services as a direct result of the January 2025 wildfires. 

Additional Information

  • Applicants previously awarded funding from the LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund between January 2025 - April 2025 are eligible to apply for a Phase 2 Grant and are encouraged to apply. 

  • The application for Phase 2 grants is expected to be open through May 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their status within three weeks of submission of their application. 

  • Please do not submit more than one application for this Phase 2 Grant. Duplicate applications may be flagged as potential fraud, and their review slowed or denied.

  • As of May 2025, we are no longer funding costs due to temporary evacuation, as defined as costs associated with displacement from primary residence for less than 7 days due to mandatory evacuation orders.

Phase 1 Grant Eligibility Criteria (January 2025 - April 2025) - This funding cycle has closed to new applicants 

Applicants must meet all of the criteria noted below to be eligible for these Phase 1 Grants. 

The focus of this funding is current or recent LACCD students who have experienced a loss of housing for an extended period due to destruction, damage, or unsafe conditions caused by the January 2025 fires, or who are facing other significant hardships as a direct result of the fires.

To be eligible, students must meet at least one of the following:

For-Credit Students:

  • Completed at least 3 units at any LACCD college in the Fall 2024 term, OR

  • Enrolled in at least one course at any LACCD college in the Winter 2024 term, OR

  • Enrolled in at least one course at any LACCD college in the Spring 2025 term

Non-Credit Students:

  • Completed a Non-Credit course with SP (Satisfactory Progress) or P (Pass) at any LACCD college in the Fall 2024 term, OR

  • Enrolled in a Non-Credit course at any LACCD college in the Winter 2024 term; OR

  • Enrolled in a Non-Credit course at any LACCD college in the Spring 2025 term

Note: K-12 Dual Enrollment students are not eligible.