Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, announced today that it has launched its financial recovery and relief effort to provide immediate assistance to individuals, small businesses, and communities impacted by the recent devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

In collaboration with local and national partners, Operation HOPE is mobilizing its entire network of more than 300 certified financial coaches to guide affected residents, workers and business owners through the complex application process for post-disaster federal relief and insurance claims. This includes assistance in obtaining payment deferrals on mortgages, small business loans, auto loans and credit cards as well as support for those who have lost important paperwork or are uninsured to navigate the recovery process. These critical services are provided at no cost through the Operation HOPE Inside Disaster initiative.

“The devastation and destruction across the Los Angeles metropolitan area hits deep for us at Operation HOPE and for me, personally. I launched Operation HOPE in Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King riots more than 30 years ago to help rebuild our community and uplift residents and businesses through financial empowerment. So, there was no question that we would be doing everything we can to support those affected by these wildfires – especially those in the neighborhoods around Altadena, which has been a haven for racial and economic diversity for generations,” said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO. “As an LA native, I know these communities intimately and know the hard-working, resilient people of this city will recover and rebuild, and Operation HOPE will be here to support these recovery efforts today and throughout the long rebuilding effort ahead.”

HOPE Inside Disaster is one of only a few financial emergency preparedness and recovery services in the country that is authorized to work with federal, state and local agencies as well as national non-profits. The initiative began in 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks and has provided financial recovery and relief assistance to individuals and small businesses in the wake of every other major disaster situation in the U.S. including Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy and the Maui wildfires in 2023. Through partnerships with the American Red Cross, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as the private sector, Operation HOPE deploys in response to federally-declared disasters and serves as a financial advocate for local homeowners, renters, and small business owners. While Operation HOPE does not provide direct financial aid, the non-profit works directly with disaster victims to obtain needed resources and financial help to facilitate recovery. Beyond immediate assistance, Operation HOPE actively educates victims throughout the ongoing restoration and rebuilding efforts, collaborating closely with partners, community members, and government agencies.

For more information and assistance, affected individuals are encouraged to contact Operation HOPE Inside Disaster, powered by HOPE Coalition America (HCA).

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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