It’s something she says she’ll never take for granted after the 2020 Almeda Fire destroyed her home. She says she can still remember the smell of the smoke.
“Even though we couldn’t see it, something just didn’t feel right,” Martin recalled. “Then the sheriff came driving around telling all of us to evacuate, and we started scrambling.”
Martin made it out in time but lost everything. Over the next four years, she moved from place to place. While grateful to have a roof over her head, the spaces were dark and made her feel claustrophobic. At the same time, she was recovering from cancer surgery and beginning to feel helpless.
“I was so overwhelmed,” Martin said. “It was just too much.”
Just as she was beginning to lose hope, she experienced what she describes as two miracles. The first was learning that one of her neighbor’s cats had survived the fire.
“I saw his picture on social media and was shocked,” Martin said. “We thought we had lost him. But it was Jude. His whiskers were singed, but he was still alive. He’s our miracle cat.”
Martin’s neighbor wasn’t in a position to care for the cat, so Jude became part of Martin’s family.
Her second miracle was learning about the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), which offers survivors pathways to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes.
Martin worked with ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, to complete her application. Because she just had surgery, staff came to her home to help her fill out the forms and gather the necessary documents.
“It took a village,” Martin said. “But I felt so supported throughout the process. When I found out I qualified for a new home, I screamed with joy! It was such a relief. It was such a big weight lifted off my chest. I thought I was going to be in that dark apartment for the rest of my life.”
Through the HARP Home Purchase pathway, which helps survivors buy move-in-ready homes, Martin moved into her new mobile home in March 2025. She says her favorite feature is the large living room windows where both she and Jude can enjoy the sun.
“To have the light, to be able to just breathe is such a relief,” she said. “I’m just in awe of how everything worked out. Thank God for the HARP program and the people who helped me. Starting over is hard for anyone, let alone at my age. I could never have done it without them.”
Help is still available for people impacted by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters. Submit the Eligibility Questionnaire as soon as possible, because the deadline for new applications is Dec. 31. To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or call the ReOregon Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938.
OHCS wants to ensure that everyone has access to its information and programs. If you would like this information in a different language, please email Language.Access@hcs.oregon.gov.