WASHINGTON – The Los Angeles Community Recovery Investment Fund (LACIF), developed by Creative Investment Research (CIR), has launched a copywritten and innovative financing framework designed to help families and communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Altadena and across Los Angeles County.
LACIF represents a new kind of investment vehicle that combines traditional mortgage channels with crowdfunding and digital currency technologies to deliver equitable, transparent, and scalable recovery funding to underserved communities.
“This vehicle combines traditional mortgage securitization with modern community finance,” said William Michael Cunningham, economist, founder of Creative Investment Research, and member of the Consolidated Board of Realtist (CBR). “It creates a pathway for institutional investors, local banks, and residents to work together toward one goal: rebuilding lives and wealth in the wake of disaster.”
A Market-Based Recovery Approach
Drawing on decades of experience in community finance and mortgage-backed securities, LACIF integrates escrow-based transparency, faith-based trust networks, GIS-guided targeting of low- and moderate-income areas, and rigorous impact reporting to ensure funds reach affected homeowners.
The Wildfire Recovery Community Mortgage & Construction Loan Program will begin by supporting 10 households in Altadena and nearby areas. It aims to offer construction-to-permanent, renovation, and bridge loans, creating a sustainable, risk-controlled vehicle that generates both social impact and market-rate returns.
The program aligns with Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals and provides investors with measurable, place-based impact opportunities in California’s low- and moderate-income communities.
Blending Crowdfunding and Digital Currency
At its core, the initiative blends crowdfunding participation with digital currency integration, allowing small investors and community members to contribute funds that may be aggregated into pools eligible for Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, or private-sector securitization.
By connecting grassroots participation with institutional capital, the LACIF model shows how financial technology can enhance trust, accountability, and efficiency in recovery.
“While no formal agreements with banks or government partners are in place yet, this is how transformative finance begins—by building the framework first, transparently and publicly,” Cunningham noted.
Transparency and Community Leadership
The platform will offer open access to information about the program’s structure, goals, and partnerships. Though still in its formative stage, LACIF provides a blueprint for how mortgage finance, digital innovation, and community leadership can work together to rebuild neighborhoods equitably.
“Our mission,” said Cunningham, “is not just to restore houses—it’s to restore dignity, ownership, and stability for the families who built these communities.”
About LACIF
The Los Angeles Community Recovery Investment Fund is a collaborative initiative by Creative Investment Research to support equitable wildfire recovery in Los Angeles County through community-led assessment, mortgage origination, and securitization that blend crowdfunding and digital assets for long-term, inclusive recovery. For more information, visit https://lacommunityrecoveryinvestmentfund.com.
