The California Association of REALTORS® (CAR) has committed itself to disaster relief in a very big way as a response to last year’s devastating wildfires and mudslides in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
Thanks to the dedicated fundraising efforts of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS, the Ojai Valley Board of REALTORS and the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS, CAR announced that $650,000 and counting is now available to residential victims of those natural disasters.
Both homeowners and renters affected by the wildfires and mudslides in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties are eligible to apply. CAR funding, along with the help of state and national housing assistance funds, are expected to assist more than 200 families, according to Matt Capritto, president of the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS.
Capritto said, “The fires and debris flow destroyed some 700 homes in our region, including the home my father had lived in for 45 years. Area Realtors want to continue helping the disaster victims and this is a great way we can do so.”
Andy Alexander, president of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS, also spoke to the devastation in his area. “Debris flow in (the town and surrounding areas of) Montecito washed mud and rock from the burnt hillsides…into streets below, killed 21 people including one Realtor, injured hundreds and either damaged or destroyed more than 380 homes.”
These big time efforts are coming from collaborating small town REALTOR associations. Donations are more than welcome from Realtors throughout the country. Simply contact CAR with your gift.
Relief victims can download applications from these several sites:
www.vcrealtors.com/community-info/thomas-fire.html
www.sbaor.org/membercenter/realtor-disaster-relief-program
