Oregon Launches Home Rebuild Support for 2020 Labor Day Wildfire Survivors

A Long Road Back from the 2020 Labor Day Fires

The Labor Day 2020 wildfires were among the most destructive in Oregon history, burning more than one million acres and destroying thousands of homes across Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties. Years after the flames were extinguished, many survivors are still navigating insurance gaps, rising construction costs, and permitting delays. Oregon's new state-administered rebuilding program aims to close those gaps with direct financial assistance.

The Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program

The Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program, known as HARP, is administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services and funded through a $422 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HARP is the first state program to provide aid directly to individual wildfire survivors rather than to developers or local governments. Oregon officials announced in March 2024 that HARP would begin accepting applications, working with community-based organizations across the impacted counties to help survivors complete paperwork.

What HARP Can Pay For

HARP is designed to help eligible homeowners repair, rebuild, or replace a primary residence destroyed or severely damaged by the Labor Day 2020 wildfires. The program can also reimburse survivors who have already completed qualifying rebuilds using their own funds, provided they meet income and documentation requirements. Priority is given to low- and moderately low-income households, consistent with HUD's Community Development Block Grant rules. Assistance is typically structured as a forgivable grant, meaning the homeowner does not have to repay the funds as long as they continue to live in the property during the compliance period.

Energy Efficient Rebuilding Incentives

Alongside HARP, the Oregon Department of Energy has administered its Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive Program, created by the Oregon Legislature through House Bill 5006 in 2021. The program issued roughly 850 incentives across eight counties, supporting energy-efficient construction choices such as high-performance insulation, heat pumps, and efficient windows. Incentives range from $3,000 to $18,000 per home, with larger amounts available for low- and moderate-income survivors and for projects meeting higher efficiency standards.

Who Qualifies and How to Apply

To qualify for HARP, applicants generally must have owned a primary residence in one of the eight declared counties at the time of the 2020 fires, have documented fire-related damage or loss, and fall within program income limits tied to area median income. Survivors are encouraged to start by visiting re.oregon.gov, where they can sign up for updates, review eligibility details, and connect with intake partners. Caseworkers help applicants gather documents such as proof of ownership, insurance settlement statements, and cost estimates, and guide them through the environmental review and contractor selection steps required under HUD rules.

Why This Matters

For families who spent years living in temporary housing, with relatives, or in RVs on their own scorched lots, HARP and the Energy Efficient Wildfire Rebuilding Incentive Program offer a realistic path back to permanent housing. Oregon housing officials have acknowledged that recovery will not be complete for years, but the combination of direct grants, energy incentives, and infrastructure funding represents one of the largest wildfire recovery efforts the state has ever undertaken.