why we verify survivor status

If you’d like to access the PostFire Portal, we ask you to verify that you were directly impacted by the 2025 fires. Here’s why…

So we can make sure that what’s meant for you reaches you

Sadly, some folks take advantage of aid that is meant for survivors. If an organization can’t prove how it mitigates that fraud, it can spook donors who might otherwise want to help.

Because all of our members are verified, we earn donor trust.

so we can negotiate steeper discounts for you

Part of what we do at PostFire is collectively bargain pricing on things so many of us are purchasing - like building materials.

Similarly to donors, vendors will only extend discounts that are meant for survivors to verified folks.

So we can give out grants

We want to make getting grants easier, but they often have strict stipulations about who can receive them. By verifying your status, we can put you up for things without you having to do extra work.

If you’re approved for something, we’ll reach out and ask if you’d like to receive it.

Maybe you’ve heard quotes about what survivors are living through that don’t ring true to your community, or you’ve seen action taken by aid entities that feel out of touch. That’s often because someone is making assumptions about what you need - often someone who has never lived through a disaster.

Verification means that our insights are shaped by the real people living this, not opinions.

So we can advocate for you accurately

Proof of residence we can accept

We need something that proves that you were living at the affected address on January 7th, 2025. That can look like a number of things:

  • FEMA Documents (one of the below)

    • Assistance Approved

    • Status is undecided because you have insurance

    • Assistance declined because you have insurance, or because another household member already received assistance

  • Insurance Documents

    • Policy page that shows

      • Your name as it appears on your ID

      • That you had coverage on Jan 7th, 2025

    • Letter from your insurance company to you that includes:

      • Your name as it appears on your ID

      • Your affected address

      • That you had coverage on Jan 7th, 2025

  • Utility Bill that includes:

    • Your name as it appears on your ID

    • Your affected address

  • Lease that shows

    • Your name as it appears on your ID

    • Your affected address

    • Must cover January, 2025

    • Must include your and landlords signature

  • Paystub

    • Your name as it appears on your ID

    • Your affected address

    • Must cover January, 2025

you will always be asked

Your personal information will never be sold.

If you want to opt-in to sharing your information with another organization, you will be explicitly asked for your consent.

about the system we use

We use a third-party software called Persona. Major entities use it, and it is widely trusted. We invest in this service because it means we don’t hold your sensitive information, and we can help more people.

By automating the process we’re able to serve vastly more survivors than if we were limited by staff capacities.