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

Unspecified

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

Program 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

Wait for program activation

Wait for the NL-DFAP program to be officially approved and publicly announced for the relevant disaster event
Do not prepare or submit applications prior to official activation
Monitor government channels for activation announcements and further instructions

Review guidelines and instructions

Once the program is active, review public instructions on how to apply
Obtain the appropriate application forms and program guidelines
Ensure you understand the eligibility criteria for your applicant category

Gather required documentation

Collect necessary supporting documents such as proof of ownership, proof of principal residence, insurance confirmation, invoices, and records of losses or damages
Ensure documentation meets the requirements for your applicant type (homeowner, tenant, small business, not-for-profit, etc.)

Submit application and documents

Complete the NL-DFAP application form thoroughly
Attach all required supporting documents
Submit your application within 90 days of the program approval date (extensions may be considered for extraordinary circumstances)

Await application review

Wait for acknowledgement of receipt and initial review by Emergency Services Division (ESD)
If additional information is required, respond within the specified deadline

Participate in assessment and settlement

If eligible, participate in the assessment process with the insurance adjuster and claims examiner
Choose your settlement option if approved (repair by contractor at 100% eligible costs or cash settlement at 70%)
Sign and return the Final Release and Indemnity (FRI) form

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.