CTA Disaster Relief Fund

The CTA Disaster Relief Fund is a separate, special fund for members of CTA through voluntary contributions from CTA members, and through CTA fundraising drives throughout the year. The fund, administered by CTA Member Benefits Department, is endowed to provide grants for reimbursement for losses to CTA members who have experienced significant losses due to natural or other disasters in California.

What is Required with the Application?

Total Loss to Primary Residence: Total loss letter from the insurance company OR clear pictures of the house with the surround area in the background

Damage to Primary Residence (Not a Total Loss): Insurance adjuster's written estimate and damage must be 5% of replacement cost of residence or greater (refer to your homeowner's policy for the replacement cost or CTA will accept Zillow, Redfin or similar estimates to calculate 5%)

Damage to Land or Structure within the property line (No Significant Damage to Primary Residence): Pictures and written repair estimate (i.e. fences, detached garage, shed, etc.) and damage must be $500 or more to qualify

Mandatory Evacuation: Address of primary residence must be within the mandatory evacuation red zone, and NOT only under a warning or yellow zone. Application must include mandatory evacuation notice with start date showing and notice showing end date. Application should be submitted AFTER mandatory evacuation warning is lifted for CTA members to calculate the number of days to determine which grant they qualify for: 1) Up to $500 Temporary Displacement Grant for 5 days; 2) Up to $1,000 Short Term Displacement Grant for 10 days; and 3) Up to $1,500 Standard Grant for 15 or more days. 

Loss of Utilities (Electricity, Gas and/or Water): Primary residence must be continuously without one or more utilities for a minimum 5-day period. Application should be submitted AFTER utilities return for CTA members to calculate the number of days to determine which grant they qualify for: 1) Up to $500 Temporary Displacement Grant for 5 days; 2) Up to $1,000 Short Term Displacement Grant for 10 days; and 3) Up to $1,500 Standard Grant for 15 or more days. 

School Site Grants: Individual members may apply for reimbursement for up to $500 for personal property damaged or lost at the school site related to fire or other disaster. Itemized list with value for each item is required and reimbursement is for personal property, but not owned or provided by the district.

 

Online Application

Highlights

  • Provides grants for reimbursement for losses to CTA members who suffer significant losses due to natural and other disasters in California
  • Funded by voluntary contributions from CTA members, and through CTA fundraising drives throughout the year
  • Administrative services provided by CTA Member Benefits Department

Grant and Qualification Details

Standard Grant
CTA members may receive up to $1,500 for significant economic hardship related to damage to their primary residence, displacement or disruption in required utilities as the result of a disaster.

Catastrophic Damage Grant
Recipients of the Standard Grant may be eligible for up to another $1,500 if damages exceed $50,000.

Temporary Displacement Grant
A grant of up to $500 may be available for members who are displaced from their primary residence or disruption in required utilities* as the result of a disaster, but do not meet the requirements for a Standard Grant.

Short Term Displacement Grant**
A grant up to $1,000 may be available for members who are displaced (under mandatory evacuation) from their primary residence or disruption in required utilities as the result of a disaster, but do not meet the requirements for a Standard Grant. Members eligible for the Short Term Displacement Grant will not receive both the Temporary Displacement Grant and Short Term Displacement Grant.

School Site Grant
Members may receive up to $500 for damage to their classroom or school site.

*For date of loss effective January 1, 2023 and beyond.
**For date of loss effective November 18, 2021 and beyond.

Note: The filing deadline is 12 months from the date of the incident. The application and all corresponding documentation must be submitted by 12 months from the date of incident. Must be a CTA member during the incident and current CTA member to qualify. This is a summary of the benefits. Please refer to each of the grant pages for eligibility, qualification criteria and verification requirements.

Resources

Please refer all inquiries and submit all applications to:

CTA Member Benefits Department
1705 Murchison Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010
Email: MemberBenefits@cta.org
Phone: (650) 552-5200
Fax: (650) 552-5014

With hundreds of fires throughout California, CTA Member Benefits is working with VSP to support the eye care needs of those directly affected. The VSP Eyes Of Hope, Disaster Relief Program pertains to all – those that have a full-service VSP plan and those that do not.  If a member (or non-member) needs replacement glasses due to theirs being lost in the fire, VSP will help replace them.  This special benefit applies for the current fires for a limited time. Visit vspglobal.com/cms/vspglobal-outreach/disasteroutreach.html  for more information.