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California Wildfire
Cash Assistance:
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)?
Founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE is a global humanitarian non-profit organization that brings immediate relief and long-term recovery solutions to underserved communities. When a crisis strikes, CORE responds immediately to fill gaps, mobilize resources, and establish trust and collaboration from within communities. For more information, go to www.coreresponse.org.
What is Cash Assistance?
As part of CORE’s comprehensive response and recovery efforts for those impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires, we are delivering cash assistance. After humanitarian disasters, CORE prioritizes this highly flexible and rapid way to help people address their most urgent needs.
Eligible households are provided a one-time grant of $760 to purchase critical items or services of their choosing. Please note, enrollment in CORE’s cash assistance program is done on a rolling basis, designed to reach those most in need based on our eligibility guidelines, and those not supported by other cash programs.
Will receiving CORE’s cash assistance affect my eligibility for other disaster aid or benefits?
CORE does not control the eligibility requirements of other organizations or services provided for disaster relief. Our immediate cash assistance does not exclude you from other services offered by CORE.
Registration
Where can I register for Cash Assistance from CORE?
CORE has teams located at the Disaster Recovery Centers and at events in collaboration with local partners in impacted communities. To ensure those who need support the most can access cash rapidly, CORE has established a registration process and eligibility review to receive support. CORE staff at these locations will assist you in completing an intake survey. Registrations must be completed in-person, online registration is not available at this time.
Cash will not be distributed at these events.
What are the criteria for eligibility for Cash Assistance?
As funding for cash assistance is limited, CORE is prioritizing support for the most vulnerable families. We use the following factors to evaluate vulnerability:
- have had homes or employment directly impacted by the wildfire
- unable to meet basic needs (food, transportation, rent, utilities, etc.)
- have members who are young children, have chronic disease, disability, or are elderly
Responses from the intake survey are assessed using these criteria to determine a vulnerability score. Each criteria grouping has multiple questions that influence the score. Households with higher vulnerability scores are prioritized for assistance.
What happens after I complete the intake survey with CORE?
After completing an intake survey, you will receive a text message to confirm your survey was received while CORE reviews your responses to determine eligibility. After our review, You will receive a text message confirming your eligibility status – whether approved or unapproved.
*Due to limited resources, not everyone who registers will be eligible for assistance.
What does my family need to provide to become eligible for cash assistance?
Aside from the information needed for the intake survey, there are no conditions or documentation required to be assessed for eligibility or to receive assistance. Your family’s eligibility will be assessed based on the information you provide. If anyone requests any favors, promises, cash, etc., in exchange for registering for cash assistance, that is a violation of your rights. CORE has an anonymous hotline to report complaints or violations through a third-party hotline, EthicsPoint. You may report anonymously by calling 1-844-939-4944. Likewise, you can submit an anonymous form using this link.
If I am eligible and selected to receive cash assistance, do I need to report it on my taxes?
Cash assistance provided by CORE is classified under the IRS’s “charitable gift status” and is exempted from taxable income, up to $19,000 in 2025. We understand that many organizations are providing “charitable gifts” and other financial assistance in response to the wildfires. We encourage you to consult a tax professional if you have any questions regarding your specific situation. If you are eligible for cash assistance by CORE, we will proceed with disbursement, so please take note of the IRS parameters before completing your registration with us or our trusted partners.
How will I know if I am eligible for CORE’s cash assistance?
After completing registration, you will receive a text message confirming that your intake survey is being reviewed using our criteria. For those who are deemed eligible, you will receive a separate message with instructions on where and how to withdraw your funds based on your payment method (see below). If you have not met the current eligibility criteria, you will also receive a text notification.
