Rebuilding Assistance
Grants
For those that qualify, the International Fire Foundation Safehome® grant is available to secure a safe home environment with early preparation and repair with no repayment.
Equally if the criteria is met, families and victims facing disaster requiring mitigation, reconstruction or full demolition and rebuild will be able to apply for the Firesafe® grant, no repayment. Firesafe® grant applicants are encouraged to participate in the labor initiative, trading volunteer time supporting first responders, participating in fire education programs and providing sweat equity with volunteer relief for families in need.
Qualified applicant may opt in for repayment of the repair or rebuild at a later time, whether taking fiscal responsibility or through voluntary labor initiative to help rebuild another home in the immediate area. Grant repayment and labor initiative are entirely voluntary.
If a safety or health hazard exists after disaster strikes, applicants may apply to have the risk mitigated by our community network through the Safehome® grant.
Loans
For lower risk population, the applicant may qualify for a no down payment, or low down payment, and no interest loans or low interest plans to help cover the cost of restoring the home, or building a new home.
For those that qualify for no interest loans, applicants may opt in to 1-3% interest to donate the funds toward the next family in need.
At any time, if the loan becomes a financial hardship, limits the families financial freedom or exceeds 40% of debt to income ratio, the loan will come under review. Entire goal of the program is restore the home, or build a new home that increases long term affordability and eliminates uninhabitable or dangerous conditions.
Fellowship
The Foundation Fellowship is available to sponsor the startup costs for any charity, fundraiser or event supporting the local first responders or affected families. The fellowship host agrees to repay the initial amount from the benefits raised, and may choose to donate an additional 1-2% of fundraiser amounts to help pay it forward for the next event.
For victims, families, or first responders:
Scholarship
The International Fire Foundation Scholarship is available to sponsor individuals that were affected by a disaster to pursue education on emergency management, fire technology, criminology, emergency medical services, nursing and med school, law, construction management or forestry.
Applicants are encouraged to stay connected with our program, and retain a priority career position with the International Fire Foundation upon graduation.
Scholarship for charity, fundraisers, and events:
The fellowship for charity, fundraisers and events will have requests from various applicants, the organization will review the request, approve in full, part or deny the request based on the type of event, amount requested and charity in question. The fellowship shall cover the startup costs to host the event, and shall be recovered by the organization through the funds raised if possible. The applicant may donate an additional 1-2% of raise funds back to the International Fire Foundation to support future charity, fundraisers and events or to rebuild a home for victims of disaster, applicant’s preferred choice.
Scholarship applicants may receive funds without repayment.
Application Filter
The applied application filter system is used to select eligibility of applicants to rebuild their home with grant or loan assistance from the International Fire Foundation:
Eligibility Criteria for Grants
Home-ownership status: The applicant must own the home that was damaged or destroyed; and be the primary residence.
Insurance status: The applicant must be uninsured, under-insured, or had a lapse in coverage at the time of the disaster.
Income: Most be within the median income threshold for the city, state of residence. 30-80%
Assets: The applicant's assets must be below a $1,500,000 aggregate.
Need: The applicant must demonstrate a need for grant or loan assistance. This could be due to the severity of the damage to their home, their financial or family situation, or other factors. Determined on a case by case basis.
Eligibility Criteria for Loans
Home-ownership status: The applicant must own the home that was damaged or destroyed; and be the primary residence.
Income: The applicant's income above $30,000.
Assets: The applicant's assets must be above $80,000.
Credit score: The applicant must have a minimum credit score and meet standard loan criteria.
Debt-to-income ratio: The applicant's debt-to-income ratio must be below a certain threshold to ensure the family does not over-leverage their position or take on unnecessary financial hardship/risk.
Grants | Loans
Scholarships
Eligibility
Application Criteria
Grant and Loan Applicants
Uninsured: The applicant must not have homeowners insurance. Candidate for full grant or loan.
Under-insured: The applicant's homeowners insurance policy must not have covered the full cost of rebuilding their home; ideal candidates for a small loan, no down payment, 0% or minimal interest repayment or partial grant.
Lapse in coverage: The applicant's homeowners insurance policy must have lapsed at the time of the disaster. May be a candidate for full grant or loan, depending on coverage of the carrier.
Favorable Terms for Loan Applicants
Low interest rate: The loan will have a low interest rate, making it more affordable for the borrower to repay.
Long repayment term: The loan will have a long repayment term, giving the borrower more time to repay the loan.
No down payment: The loan will not require a down payment, making it more accessible to borrowers with limited financial resources.
Reasonable Installment Plan for Loan Applicants
The installment plan should be based on the borrower's income, debt-to-income ratio, and liabilities. The goal is to create an installment plan that is affordable for the borrower and that will allow them to repay the loan in a timely manner without unduly forcing them into financial hardship.
Repayment Plan for Grant Applicants
The repayment plan for grant applicants shall only be triggered if and when a home-owner that has benefited from the program chooses to sell the property for profit, repayment based on the grantee's income, debt-to-income ratio, and liabilities.