PAJARO, CA — The final phase of the County of Monterey’s Pajaro Unmet Needs Disaster Assistance Program, the state funded program that allocated $5.4 million for direct payments to flood-impacted Pajaro residents, is now open to provide continued relief to households impacted by the March 2023 floods.
Community Bridges, through La Manzana Community Resources in downtown Watsonville and its Pajaro Long-Term Recovery Center in the heart of Pajaro, has been a trusted partner helping Pajaro families access this assistance since the program’s creation in March 2024.
Funded through California Assembly Bill 102 (AB 102), this program has provided Pajaro families with direct financial support to address immediate needs while filling critical recovery gaps left unmet by other sources, such as local philanthropy, state aid programs, insurance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Phase 1 focused on direct payments to all residents impacted by the floods, while Phase 2 delivered financial assistance for recovery expenses such as home repairs, vehicle replacement, housing support, and personal property losses.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, who also distributed Phase 2 dollars, and has been a key partner in direct support to residents with larger recovery projects . Their work, alongside Community Bridges, has been essential in making sure that the funding reached households and neighborhoods most impacted by the floods.
Important for Pajaro Residents:
- Families who previously received assistance through Community Bridges in Phases 1 or 2 do not need to apply again or contact us.
- Community Bridges staff will personally reach out to those households regarding Phase 3 eligibility, final allocation and next steps.
- If you have changed your phone number or contact information since last receiving aid, please contact La Manzana directly so we can ensure we have your most up-to-date information.
Phase 3 will begin on [insert official start date here]. The size of payments will depend on household size, with larger families receiving higher levels of support. This final phase is intended to close out all remaining funds allocated for supporting Pajaro residents with direct economic assistance.
Said Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino: “Two years after the devastating floods, Pajaro families are still rebuilding their lives. This final phase ensures that residents who were impacted receive every last available dollar afforded to them through AB102. Our staff will be proactively reaching out to households who qualified before, but we encourage anyone who has changed their contact information or relocated to let us know right away.”
Building on Previous Phases of Support
More than 3,000 Pajaro residents were displaced in March 2023 when the levee broke, flooding homes and destroying personal property. In response, after months of tireless community advocacy and the leadership of local representatives in Sacramento, including Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and State Senator John Laird, the California Legislature included dedicated recovery funding for Pajaro in the 2023 state budget trailer bill, AB 102.
This measure secured $20 million in state funding for Pajaro’s recovery. Of that, the County of Monterey’s Board of Supervisors allocated $5.4 million for direct payments to residents.
Those funds have been distributed accordingly:
- Phase 1 – Spoiled Food Assistance:
Provided up to $600 per household to replace food lost in the floods. To ensure all families impacted were able to receive support — even if they could not provide the documentation required for Phase 2 — households were given two rounds of Phase 1 assistance.
- 710 of 780 households approved.
- $942,788.85 distributed.
- Phase 2 – Damaged Property Reimbursement:
Provided financial assistance for flood-related damages and losses, helping residents recover expenses such as home repairs, vehicle replacement, housing support, and personal property. Within the program, the Housing Assistance and Personal Property categories carried a maximum award of $15,000 each, while Vehicle Repair/Replacement and Home Repair Assistance had no cap, ensuring families with the greatest needs could access meaningful support.
- More than 240 households approved.
- Over $3.8 million distributed.
Together, Phases 1 and 2 provided relief to hundreds of Pajaro families by distributing more than $4.7 million directly to residents.
Phase 3 will deliver the remaining portion of the $5.4 million, ensuring that families who qualified in earlier phases receive additional support to close the remaining gaps and stabilize their recovery. We are honored to have been selected as a direct service provider of the County of Monterey to provide this community assistance and recovery funds and are appreciative of both the communities trust and patience with the process of an equitable distribution for all impacted.
About Community Bridges
Community Bridges envisions a thriving community where every person has the opportunity to unleash their full potential. Together, our family of programs delivers essential services, provides equitable access to resources, and advocates for health and dignity across every stage of life. To learn more, please visit www.communitybridges.org.
