How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP)

Q: What are The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP)'s eligibility criterias?

Annual gross revenues between $10,000 and $2 million No more than 20 full-time employees Owner-operated enterprise with owner managing day-to-day operations

Last Update: July 23, 2025

NL, Canada

Provides financial aid for uninsurable disaster-related damages and losses

The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) at a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 70% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Grant Providers

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Status

Open

Overview of the The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) program

The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) provides emergency financial aid to individuals, small businesses, not-for-profits, and local authorities for uninsurable losses and damages caused by eligible natural disasters. Funding aims to reinstate essential living conditions and restore damaged property, with maximum assistance for homes based on the average provincial home price at the time of loss, covering costs such as repairs, essential belongings, debris removal, and restoration.

Financing terms and conditions

For structural damage, applicants may choose to have repairs completed by a contractor and receive up to 100% of eligible costs identified in the adjuster's report, or opt for a 70% cash settlement based on the repair estimate (excludes the 10% miscellaneous fee in the repair estimate).
Clean-up hours immediately after the disaster are compensated at minimum wage, subject to a maximum of $1,000 per applicant.
Large appliance replacements are subject to limits (e.g., fridge: $800, washer: $650, stove: $700, dryer: $600, etc.), with one unit per household.
Specific maximum payouts are outlined for various categories, such as clothing (up to $1,000 per adult), furniture (e.g., $1,200 for infant/toddler bedroom set, $4,400 for bedroom furniture per occupant, $5,400 total general furniture), and other household goods (as per the Schedule of Loss).
If a home is a total loss, the maximum assistance is based on the average provincial home cost at the time of loss, as determined by the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Eligible projects & activities

Repair and restoration of primary residences and essential property damaged by an eligible disaster.
Recovery and re-establishment of small business operations affected by a disaster, including necessary repairs and replacement of equipment.
Restoration and rebuilding of not-for-profit organization facilities and essential community services impacted by disaster events.
Mitigation projects designed to reduce vulnerability to future disasters, subject to approval.
Emergency clean-up activities required to enable the safe resumption of occupancy or business operations.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 95,000

Installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems for community facility

$ 100,000

Launch of year-round rooftop urban garden to supply food banks

$ 65,000

Acquisition of accessible transportation van for disability services

$ 69,500

Development of bilingual e-commerce website for local artisans

$ 85,500

Implementation of ERP software for inventory and accounting integration

$ 57,000

Creation of a community food box program for seniors

Eligibility criteria of the The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) program

The applicant must be a small business with annual gross revenues between $10,000 and $2 million.
The business must not have more than the equivalent of 20 full-time employees.
The business must be owner-operated, with the owner-operator managing the day-to-day operations and owning at least 50% of the business.
The applicant must be the legal owner of the business applying for assistance.
The claimed damages must be a result of an eligible natural disaster and must not have been reasonably insurable.

Who is eligible?

Small businesses (including landlords)
Farming operations
Self-employed fishers, trappers, and loggers
Not-for-profit organizations
Not-for-profit cooperatives

Eligible expenses

Cleaning and debris removal (including out-of-pocket costs, waste disposal, and hazardous material removal).
Compensation for hours spent on clean-up at minimum wage (up to a capped amount).
Repair and restoration of damaged business premises to their pre-disaster condition, as substantiated by damage appraisal reports.
Replacement or repair of damaged essential business equipment and inventory required for operations.
Incremental compensation paid to employees or contractors specifically for clean-up activities after the disaster.
Reasonable fixed business expenses incurred due to the disaster (e.g., rental of office space and equipment for a limited period).
Restoration, rebuilding, or replacement of damaged facilities owned by not-for-profit organizations.
Landscaping costs only if they are an essential part of business operations (such as golf courses or botanical gardens).
Levelling and restoring damaged farmland to workable condition for farms.
Replacement or repair of farm machinery, equipment, livestock (if uninsurable), and harvested crops or business inventory in storage.

Eligible geographic areas

Newfoundland and Labrador

How to apply to the The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) program

Step 1: Await Program Activation
- Monitor official announcements from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for public notice that the Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP) is open for applications following an eligible disaster.
Step 2: Review Application Instructions
- Read the publicly released guidelines and instructions specific to the activated NL-DFAP event.
- Identify which applicant category applies to you: residential homeowner or tenant, small business, not-for-profit organization/cooperative, or local authority.
Step 3: Gather Required Documentation
- Collect necessary supporting documents as outlined in the program guidelines (e.g., proof of ownership, proof of primary residence, proof of damage/loss, confirmation of insurance, and any other required forms for your category).
Step 4: Complete Application Forms
- Fill out the application form corresponding to your applicant category.
- Ensure all sections are complete and attach all required documentation.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
- Submit the completed application form along with all supporting documents to the Emergency Services Division (ESD) within 90 days of program activation.
- Submit by following the instructions provided in the public announcement (submission details will be outlined at activation).
Step 6: Respond to Requests for Additional Information
- If notified of missing or incomplete information, respond promptly and provide the required documents within the deadline specified by ESD.
Step 7: Participate in Evaluation and Assessment
- Cooperate with assigned insurance adjusters and claims examiners during the evaluation of loss and damage and the assessment of your application.
Step 8: Choose Settlement Option (if applicable)
- If eligible, review assessment results and choose your preferred settlement option: repair by contractor (eligible cost reimbursement) or cash settlement (percentage of estimated cost).
Step 9: Complete Final Release and Indemnity Form
- Sign and return the Final Release and Indemnity (FRI) form to accept your settlement offer.
Step 10: Receive Payment
- Payment will be issued according to your chosen settlement and upon processing of the required documentation by ESD.

Additional information

The program is only activated following a public announcement after an eligible disaster has occurred.
Applicants must disclose insurance payouts and assistance from other sources, which will be deducted from the final settlement amount.
False or withheld information can result in disqualification from receiving assistance.
A request for reconsideration can be submitted within 30 days if an applicant disagrees with a denial or settlement amount.