Program Criteria

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.

If the criteria is met, families and victims facing disaster requiring mitigation, reconstruction or 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; participation is voluntary and not required to partake in IFF programs.

Qualified applicants may opt in for repayment of the repair or rebuild grants at any 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.

Applicants are required to maintain residence within the structure as a primary residence for a minimum of twenty years. If the structure is sold prior to the agreed terms, the grant amount may be due at sale.

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.

Emergency Response Team Deployments:

Volunteer Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) are deployed to all active and recent incidents as requested by local first responder partners and public agency notification. ERTs provide:

• Incident Support

• Victim Assistance

• Damage Evaluation and Prevention

• Long Term Recovery Education

• 501(c)3 Fundraiser Setup and Management

• IFF Trusted Partner Network Referrals

Sponsorship of Charity, Fundraisers, Events:

The Community Connection program is built to support local organizations, partners, local community leaders, and/or victims, families, and first responders in affected areas.

The applications 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 alignment with the IFF mission and values. The sponsorship will cover the startup costs to host the event, and shall be recovered by the requesting organization through the funds raised if possible. The applicant may voluntarily donate additional funds to the International Fire Foundation to support future charity, fundraisers and events or IFF programs.

The International Fire Foundation may choose to engage or be requested as the fiscal sponsor of the event if IFF mission and values align with the event activities.

First Responder Collaboration

The International Fire Foundation can be a local community partner to support community events. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, IFF offers fiscal sponsorship for fundraising events that align with IFF mission and values. Applicants may host charity events or accept donations without the burden of establishing your own non-profit organization or separate fire foundation and reap all the benefits of tax exemption for community patrons. Work with your local  International Fire Foundation community leader or organize your own event – either way, event supporters will enjoy the tax benefits of contributing to a registered non-profit and supporting the event. Together, let's build a stronger, safer community!

Emergency Hazard Mitigation

The last component of the community connection program is emergency hazard mitigation. The IFF Partner Network of local community leaders will identify, verify and mitigate immediate life safety hazards that impact local communities.

Examples of emergency hazards are downed trees, objects, disaster impacted homes, structures and other objects; open and unsecure structures; wildfire damaged property and structure fire damaged property.

City/County Partnerships

The City or County of an affected area may engage with the International Fire Foundation to support emergency response agencies to eliminate public hazards after disaster strikes to limit risk and liability for the city, and decrease injury for the affected community. Incorporated or unincorporated areas may engage in monthly or annual contributions to mitigate emergency hazards within their jurisdiction.

Fiscal Sponsorship:

Partners within the IFF Network may apply for fiscal sponsorship to receive additional funding for disaster projects in their affected community.

Application Criteria

The IFF application system is used to select eligibility of affected applicants to rebuild affected homes with grant or loan assistance from the International Fire Foundation:

High Risk Populations

High Risk Priority: All high risk populations are given priority for IFF programs across Rebuild, Upgrade and Community Connection. IFF is built to support under-represented, uninsured families in vulnerable situations without adequate support.

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 may be insured, uninsured, under-insured, or had a lapse in coverage at the time of the disaster. Insured applicants may still be eligible and apply.

Income: Must display immediate need for assistance or financial disparity. Insured applicants may apply, the board of directors will conduct independent case review.

Need: The applicant must demonstrate a need for grant or loan assistance. Demonstrated need could be due to the severity of the damage to the home, the financial status or family situation, or other factors. Determined on a case by case basis.

Timeline: Within twelve (12) months of initial incident. Applicants beyond one (1) year may still apply for consideration, pending special case review.

Cause: Source may not be arson, or suspicious ignition.

Legal: Pending legal action, complications, or circumstances that unduly places risk and liability on IFF may be declined.

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 $15,000/yr.

Assets: The applicant's assets must be above $20,000.

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 the current position or take on unnecessary financial hardship/risk.

Timeline: Within twelve (12) months of initial incident, applicants beyond one (1) year may still apply for consideration.

Grants | Loans

Community

Connection

Eligibility