Muñoz says her granddaughter is one of the reasons she had the strength to keep going after the 2020 Almeda Fire destroyed her home. The loss was especially painful for Muñoz because she had just bought the home two months before.
“I didn’t even have a washer or dryer yet,” Muñoz explained. “In fact, I was on my way to
do laundry when the fire broke out.”
She remembers how hot and windy it was that day, so hot that she decided to keep her two dogs inside while she was gone.
“I wasn’t able to save them,” she said. “It was such a brutal fire. Everything melted, my patio furniture, everything. I lost it all. My kids’ things, their baby pictures, my mom and dad’s ashes. I know it’s just stuff, but you can’t replace those. It was horrible.”
On top of that, Muñoz’s homeowner’s insurance was not yet in place. FEMA assistance helped, but it was not enough. She managed to find a rental for herself and her high-school-aged son, and over time they began to regain a sense of normalcy, even welcoming a new dog into their lives. Still, the hope of a permanent home felt out of reach until a chance encounter at Olive Garden changed everything.
“I had just gotten my order of alfredo when I overheard a waitress talking about how her mother-in-law got help to rebuild her home,” Muñoz recalled. “I asked her about it, and she told me about ReOregon. It sounded too good to be true, but I went for it. I can only imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t gone to dinner that night.”
With help from ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, Muñoz applied to the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), which offers survivors pathways to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes.
Through the HARP Home Purchase pathway, which helps survivors buy move-in-ready homes, Muñoz was able to buy a new townhome with enough space for her granddaughter to come and stay during the week.
Muñoz moved into her home in June 2025 and is already looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas there with her granddaughter.
“It’s such a blessing to have her through all of this,” Muñoz said. “She’s a miracle. This new house is a miracle.”
Muñoz urges anyone still recovering from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters to see if they qualify for help.
“This has been life changing,” Muñoz exclaimed. “I can’t even believe this program exists. Never in my life have I come across so much help. I still can’t believe it.”
Help is still available for people impacted by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters. Submit the Eligibility Questionnaire as soon as possible because new applications close on December 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.