California MBA to Convene Disaster Recovery Forum, in Partnership with State of California, Connecting Los Angeles Wildfire Survivors with Lenders, State Agencies, and Rebuilding Resources

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 29, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Next week, the California Mortgage Bankers Association (California MBA) will host the California Disaster Recovery Forum at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, partnering with the State of California to bring together the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), mortgage lenders and servicers, planning and permitting officials, and community organizations to help survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires navigate financing and rebuilding.

The event comes as Los Angeles County continues to recover from the January 2025 wildfires, which destroyed thousands of homes across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena, and surrounding communities and left many property owners facing an unfamiliar rebuilding and financing process.

"When disaster strikes, recovery cannot rest with one organization or agency — it requires all of us. The California Disaster Recovery Forum will bring residents, industry professionals, government leaders and government agencies together in an open, constructive and collaborative environment to share knowledge and identify gaps and create solutions. By supporting families affected by the Altadena and Pacific Palisades wildfires today, we can also build a practical playbook that helps California — and communities across the country — respond faster, collaborate more effectively and be better prepared for the next natural disaster," said Paul Gigliotti, CEO of California Mortgage Bankers Association.

Following opening remarks on the shared commitment among state and industry partners, CalHFA will present details on its disaster rebuilding assistance program, outlining new resources available to wildfire-affected homeowners. Other resources include the Home Rebuild Network (homerebuildnetwork.org), which connects wildfire-affected homeowners with participating lenders and recovery resources. Powered by Prudent AI, the portal collects borrower information and matches consumers with construction lending partners — including CMG Financial and Guild Mortgage — best suited to their rebuilding needs.

The program will then open into the Recovery Resource Exchange, a hands-on resource fair where residents can meet with mortgage lenders, servicers, and recovery specialists to work through their financing and rebuilding questions.

“As California continues to invest in financial support to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires rebuild their homes, our continued and collaborative public-private partnerships are critically important,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of the California Housing and Homelessness Agency. “By connecting our state and industry experts and providing ways for survivors to learn about innovative new opportunities like the Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program, we can ensure that everyone focused on disaster recovery is on a pathway to success.” 

“CalHFA’s Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program gives families the support and resources they need during this phase of recovery after a disaster,” said Tony Sertich, Executive Director of CalHFA. “We’re proud to provide more affordable options to homeowners as they begin to rebuild and restore their communities.”

Survivors who are unable to attend will be able to access the resources offered at the forum through the following: CalHFA’s Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program

"One system. One room. One path forward." That idea will shape the forum itself — bringing survivors and recovery resources into one place for one day, instead of sending people from agency to agency. The new Home Rebuild Network carries that same coordination online, giving survivors continued access to lenders and recovery resources long after the event ends. The forum is made possible through a partnership between California MBA, the State of California, CalHFA, DFPI, and the mortgage lenders, servicers, and community organizations who will staff the Recovery Resource Exchange. California MBA has also supported Governor Newsom's $100 million Disaster Rebuild Fund and other state efforts to expand disaster recovery financing.  

About California Mortgage Bankers Association

The California Mortgage Bankers Association (California MBA) is a leading advocate for the real estate finance industry, representing mortgage lenders, servicers, and industry partners operating in California and across the country. The association works to advance responsible lending, promote innovation, and ensure policymakers understand how legislation and regulation impact the mortgage industry and the consumers it serves. For more information, visit cmba.com.

Media Contact

Alison MacLeod
amacleod@ka-pow.com
+1 916-255-6137