Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Families
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Disaster Services Branch (DSB), can provide assistance through the programs described below.
State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP)
California's SSGP, administered by the CDSS’ DSB, may provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to Individuals and Household Program (IHP) is implemented. The SSGP is 100 percent State funded. The grant may assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP. However, individuals must have applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and maximized the IHP award in order to be eligible for SSGP. State grants cover disaster relief needs in the same categories as the IHP.
If you have reached the maximum IHP assistance, FEMA will automatically transmit your application information to SSGP. There is no separate application process for SSGP. If you have questions about the SSGP, you may contact SSGP at 1-800-759-6807 or by email at SSGP@dss.ca.gov. For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, the TTY number is 1-800-952-8349.
Click on the following links for more detailed information about the SSGP.
Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP)
DCMP is FEMA-funded and provides supplemental Disaster Case Management services to vulnerable populations in the event of a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration that includes Individual Assistance.
The DCMP is a limited-term, holistic partnership between a case manager and an individual survivor or household to identify and address unmet needs caused by the declared disaster. Through this partnership, the case manager works with the survivor to develop a comprehensive recovery plan to assist the survivor with any un-resourced items, support, or assistance that has been assessed and verified as necessary for the survivor to recover from a disaster.
Crisis Counseling, Immediate Services Program (ISP)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has oversight of the Crisis Counseling-Immediate Services Program. This is a 60-day maximum program starting from the date of the Disaster Declaration to provide immediate crisis counseling (non-licensed level) to disaster survivors.
The CDSS would contract with local social service agencies to implement a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) for disaster survivors funded by FEMA. The program is structured with training provided for counselors; this is crisis-intervention counseling (non-licensed) that can be provided by lay people interested in helping disaster survivors.
Program guidance can be found here: Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program.
Federal Assistance - Individuals and Households Program
Individuals or households that have suffered damage in a Presidentially-declared disaster that has been approved for Individual Assistance can register for assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling the FEMA registration toll-free phone number at 1-800-621-3362. For the speech or hearing-impaired, the toll-free phone number is 1-800-462-7585.