Closed
Source verified September 22, 2026
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)
Recovery aid for disaster-related losses
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Funding available
$ 400,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Overview
Disaster Financial Assistance supports British Columbia homeowners, tenants, small businesses, farms, and charitable organizations recovering from uninsurable disaster losses, covering 80% of eligible damage exceeding $1,000 up to $400,000. It can fund structural repairs, replacement of essential personal effects, business and farm materials, cleanup and disinfecting, debris removal, and restoration of essential access.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Renovate or adapt facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- From $ 10,000 to $ 2,000,000 in revenue
Organisation size
- 50 employees maximum
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- General public
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Repair or replacement of damaged eligible structures.
- Cleanup and disinfection after a disaster.
- Restoration of essential access to fields and outbuildings.
- Repair or replacement of essential personal effects, business materials, farm structures, and charitable organization materials.
Documents Needed
- Completed insurance template from your insurance broker, plus any insurance payout documents.
- For residential tenants: a rental agreement, lease, or other proof of legal occupancy, and government issued identification such as Driver's License, BC Services Card, or BC ID.
- For landlords: complete T1 general income tax returns for all owners, T776 Statement of real estate rentals, residential tenancy agreement, and any lease agreements if applicable.
- For small business or farm owners: proof of what insurance covered, lease agreements if applicable, and the required financial documents for the business structure, including T1 general tax returns with supporting schedules, most recently filed financial statements, proof of ownership, completed T2 with supporting schedules, and company income statement and balance sheet.
- For charitable or non-profit organizations: a list of directors with contact and address information, proof of registration under the BC Societies Act and annual filings, a statement outlining the organization’s benefit or service to the community, and any other supporting documentation.
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Home owners
- Residential tenants
- Small business owners
- Farm owners
- Charitable organizations
Eligible expenses
- Structural repair or replacement of eligible structures, including foundations, footings, slab floors, structural walls, attached garages, framing, roofing, doors, windows, materials, wall coverings, mouldings, fixtures, finishings, and existing protective works designed to protect banks from erosion.
- Cleanup and disinfection, including casual labour at the British Columbia minimum hourly rate up to a maximum of 100 person-hours and commercial services and rentals that are not on a continuing basis.
- Repair or replacement of eligible personal effects, including kitchen and dining room items, living room furniture, bedroom furniture and bedding, bathroom and laundry room items, clothing, household tools, prescription medicines, a vacuum cleaner, a telephone, a mirror, a freezer, freezer food, and specialized clothing, tools or equipment required for the applicant’s current trade or profession.
- Repair or replacement of eligible business materials, including books and papers required to carry out the business, tools and equipment essential to the business, business furnishings, and inventory at replacement cost.
- Eligible farm and charitable organization items, including filling and levelling to restore essential access to fields and outbuildings, parking areas, pumps, services and connections, space and water heating equipment, fences on working farms where livestock is kept, and outbuildings essential to the organization.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Insurable damages in the private sector, including damage caused by wildfires, earthquakes, snow load, wind storms, sewer or sump pit back-up, and water entry from above ground.
- Insurance deductibles, non-essential and recreational items, land lost due to erosion, landscaping, and luxury goods.
- Income loss, including personal, farm or business operation income or opportunity.
- Costs related to inadequate drainage due to lack of maintenance, insurable vehicles, equipment and vessels, and land value loss except where the land is essential to the farm or business operation.
- Recreational or seasonal structures and their contents, detached or semi-detached garages or carports and their contents, outbuildings unless essential to the operation of the business or farm, and wharves, docks, floats, jetties and other foreshore or backshore improvements.
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia
How to apply
- Review the required documentation for the category or categories you are applying for.
- Complete the individuals and organizations application form through the EMCR Disaster Financial Assistance application portal.
- Have your insurance broker complete the appropriate insurance template to include with your application.
- Upload all required documents as directed.
- Submit your application within 90 days of the disaster being declared eligible for DFA.
Processing and Agreement
- The program may contact the applicant to discuss the application and damages and may request additional information to confirm category eligibility.
- Once eligibility has been determined, the file may be assigned to an evaluator to assess the damage.
- After a complete file review, a decision letter will be sent and the decision will be reflected in the DFA portal dashboard.
- If funding is approved, a cheque will be sent to the mailing address and a payment letter will be sent by mail or email.
- Appeals must be submitted within 60 days of the decision, and appeal decisions are final.
Additional information
- The program is administered by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness under the Emergency Program Act and the Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) Program
What is the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)?
Disaster Financial Assistance supports British Columbia homeowners, tenants, small businesses, farms, and charitable organizations recovering from uninsurable disaster losses, covering 80% of eligible damage exceeding $1,000 up to $400,000. It can fund structural repairs, replacement of essential personal effects, business and farm materials, cleanup and disinfecting, debris removal, and restoration of essential access.
How much funding can be received?
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $400,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) program?
To be eligible for the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) program, you must:
The claim must relate to uninsurable losses caused by an authorized disaster or emergency event.
The applicant must be a home owner, residential tenant, small business owner, farm owner, or charitable organization.
Home owners and residential tenants must have occupied the affected property as their principal residence at the time of the event.
What expenses are eligible under Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)?
Repair or replacement of damaged eligible structures.
Cleanup and disinfection after a disaster.
Restoration of essential access to fields and outbuildings.
Repair or replacement of essential personal effects, business materials, farm structures, and charitable organization materials.
Who can I contact for more information about the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)?
You can contact Government of British Columbia (BC) by email at DFA.Private@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 1-888-257-4777.
Where is the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) available?
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) program is available across Canada.
Is the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness — Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) is a Grant and Funding