More to Get Quake Aid
The Department of Insurance has added six more counties, including Orange, Imperial and Riverside, to a program that provides grants and low-interest loans for earthquake retrofitting.
The assistance is available to low- and moderate-income homeowners in 14 counties. Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties were included in earlier phases of the $2.8-million program, which was launched in May.
Grants and 4.5% loans are available to residents of Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Orange, Imperial and Riverside counties. The loans are available to residents of Alameda, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Cruz counties; the grant program is no longer taking applications in those areas, said spokesman Walter Watson.
Income limits for the grants and loans vary by county and family size. A family of four in Orange County, for example, could earn up to $78,950 and still qualify for the programs. The same family in Riverside County would be limited to $55,800 in income, while the limit in Imperial County would be $43,800.
To apply for a grant of up to $8,000, homeowners should contact the Insurance Department by writing to the Earthquake Grants and Loans Program, California Department of Insurance, 300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1300, Sacramento, CA 95814, or by calling (213) 897-8921. Outside Los Angeles, call (800) 927-4357. The application deadline is Jan. 5.
To apply for a loan, homeowners should contact Bank of America’s Community Development Banking Center at (800) 489-6563, Ext. 19112.
Liz Pulliam can be reached by e-mail at liz.pulliam@latimes.com.
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