$5 Million in Grants to Help California Homeowners
Prepare for “The Big One”
Plus an Additional $1 Million to Help Low-Income Homeowners
Registration Begins Today for a Program Offering $3,000 Grants
to Secure Homes in 395 High-Hazard ZIP Codes
Income-Eligible Homeowners May Also Qualify for
Supplemental Grants to Pay for up to 100% of Retrofit Cost
Sacramento, CA ― Today, there are more than 1 million houses in high-hazard areas of California that are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of the way they were constructed. Many homeowners know their homes are at risk when an earthquake occurs but are unaware that they can help protect their homes with a seismic retrofit.
This year, California’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) grant program is expanding and now includes 395 ZIP Codes where qualifying homeowners can get up to $3,000 to offset the cost of completing a seismic retrofit. For the first time, as part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are offering income-eligible homeowners a chance to qualify for newly available supplemental grants. Income-eligible homeowners with an annual household income at or below $72,080 may qualify for these new supplemental grants, which may pay for up to 100% of the retrofit cost. The amount will depend on the region and the type of retrofit completed. EBB grants help offset the cost of seismic retrofits that brace the cripple walls of older homes, when those walls are present in the crawl space, and bolt houses to their foundations, making them less vulnerable to earthquake damage.
“EBB’s growth is a testament to the importance of preparing for the next big earthquake. Bolting houses to their foundations and bracing the crawl space walls can help Californians protect their families, their homes and their investments,” said Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and executive director of EBB. “We’re pleased to extend additional support to income-eligible homeowners to help cover up to 100% of the cost of a seismic retrofit, and we encourage all eligible homeowners in EBB ZIP Codes to apply for funding now.”
With $5 million in available funding, EBB will offer approximately 1,700 retrofit grants in 2021. New ZIP Codes were added to the EBB program this year, including ZIP Codes in Inglewood, Long Beach, El Centro, Santa Clara, Vallejo and other communities―meaning EBB grants are now available in a total of 170 cities and communities statewide. The program is available in ZIP Codes that rank high in terms of seismic risk and concentration of older homes. Since the EBB program was established in 2013, EBB grants have helped more than 15,700 homeowners retrofit their houses.
