East County News Service
July 6, 2026 (San Diego County) — More than two years after severe storms battered Southern California in January 2024, many San Diego County residents are still working to repair damaged homes.
With state recovery funds in high demand, officials from the California Department of Housing and Community Development are urging affected homeowners to seek assistance through the ReCoverCA program before available resources are exhausted.
The ReCoverCA program is designed to help eligible homeowners and landlords repair or rebuild single-family properties damaged by the January 2024 storms. Because the expected volume of applications is high, HCD is emphasizing the importance of early participation and preparation.
To be eligible for the program, homeowners must meet several criteria:
The home must be a single-family property in the county that sustained at least $8,000 in damage during the January 2024 storms;
The property must be the owner’s primary residence, and the owner must have lived there at the time of the disaster;
Household income must be at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income;
Applicants must be up to date on property taxes and mortgage payments.
Additionally, landlords of single-family rental homes in the county may also be eligible if they agree to rent to households at or below 80 percent AMI for a period of five years.
HCD is hosting a series of workshops across San Diego to help residents navigate the application process.
Application assistance workshops are being held at Mountain View/Beckwourth Library, 721 San Pasqual St. in San Diego and will go from 1 to 7 p.m., July 7; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 8; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 9.
Ongoing in-person support is available at Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library, 5148 Market St. in San Diego from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July 9; 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., July 13; 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July 16; 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., July 20; 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July 23; and 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., July 27.
Once an application is initiated, homeowners have 30 days to complete and submit their application, or it may be withdrawn. Program staff will reach out during that window to help applicants finish.
After applying, participants are assigned a case manager who guides them through eligibility review, environmental assessments, and the construction or reimbursement process.
Officials strongly advise residents to pause any non-essential repair work while the program completes mandatory environmental reviews, which are required under federal rules before program funds can be committed to a project.