CASH AND VOUCHER ASSISTANCE

What is Cash and Voucher Assistance?

Cash and voucher assistance, also known as CVA, is a way of delivering humanitarian relief that strengthens communities during a crisis. It is a key part of CORE’s emergency response work, and we have a team of experts that help us deliver this specialized support. We’ve responded to disasters around the world – and we know firsthand that CVA is the most cost-effective way to help people both immediately after a crisis and over the long term. Here’s how it works:

Cash assistance is physical or digital money (such as a prepaid cash card, bank transfer or mobile money transfer) given to people impacted by a humanitarian crisis. They can spend it however they choose, with no restrictions or judgment.

Voucher assistance is a token that can be exchanged for specific items such as food, clothing, gas, or services. It can be a piece of paper, or an electronic voucher. It is less flexible than cash, as it often must be used with a specific vendor.

CORE has utilized cash and voucher assistance to respond to global disasters and conflict. We’ve delivered more than $6 million worth of CVA to 207,000 people – $5 million of which was direct cash assistance. Our responses using CVA have included Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, the war in Ukraine, earthquake recovery in Haiti, the wildfires in Maui, and many more.

Besides being a practical option, it’s also empowering. In times of extreme loss and instability, cash assistance gives power and flexibility back to the people actually impacted by disasters, so they have the freedom to prioritize their unique and urgent needs. It provides the dignity of choice, which can mean so much after losing everything.

As CVA recipients from the Maui wildfires share:

“We were desperate for gas due to the distance between [the] hotel and the kids’ school and prepaid cards helped immensely.”

“The cash gave me the opportunity to let the kids choose something special for school stuff… briefly distracting them from ALL the changes – no home, no things, and a new school.”

“I felt a relief and was able to provide food for my family – it was a big blessing.”

Cash Assistance & the Los Angeles Fires

CORE is one of the first and only organizations providing cash assistance for people impacted by the Los Angeles fires. With your generous support, our goal is to give $1 million in cash assistance. This is a critical component of our relief efforts, as many Angelenos have lost their homes, jobs, or both because of this disaster. The fires destroyed more than 12,000 houses, businesses, schools, and other structures across LA County, and we have a long road to recovery ahead.

CORE will be rolling out its cash response to support Angelenos in phases to address immediate and then longer-term needs. We’ve created eligibility requirements to make sure our support helps those most in need and is not redundant.

In CORE’s first round of assistance Angelenos are eligible for our cash assistance program if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

Your home or employment was directly impacted by the wildfire

You are unable to meet basic needs like food, transportation, rent, utilities, etc.

You have young children, a chronic disease or a disability, or are an older adult

You need to purchase emergency supplies related to the fires and/or power outages (e.g. air purifiers, generators, and other items)

This program will continue to evolve as the needs of our community change.

RESOURCE | Learn more about CORE’s cash assistance for the LA fires >>

CORE works to build community resilience with each of our emergency responses, and we focus on reaching vulnerable and low-income people. CVA creates new opportunities for traditionally excluded groups – including women and youth, older adults, and people living with disabilities – to safely access and control the resources they need. We do not do this alone. CORE partners with local leaders, financial service providers, governments, NGOs, and community-based organizations to create custom programs that will do the most good.

For more information, visit our Cash and Voucher Assistance page.