Disaster Relief Program Approved for City of Kenora Homeowners

The Province of Ontario has approved the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program for Kenora. 

Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians is a program that can help affected residents recover costs after a natural disaster. Homeowners and residential tenants, small owner-operated businesses and farms, and not-for-profit organizations in your municipality that were affected by the disaster can apply for assistance under the program. 

Eligible applicants can receive assistance for emergency expenses and costs for repair or replacement of essential and basic property if they do not have insurance or their insurance is insufficient to cover their essential costs as laid out in the program guidelines. 

The intent of the program is to return essential property to a basic level, to make homes safe and habitable and allow people to resume their livelihoods. Low-income households can apply for assistance for damage caused by sewer backup, which is not otherwise eligible under the program. 

Key Points about this Program: 

• Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians is a provincial program designed to help people affected by natural disasters get back on their feet. The program provides assistance for emergency expenses and costs to repair or replace essential property. It is not a replacement for insurance.

• The Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) has been activated for eligible homeowners, tenants, small owner-operated businesses and farms, and not-for-profit organizations within parts of our municipal boundaries that were most affected by the spring flooding between April  to June 2022.

• Low-income households can apply for assistance for damage caused by sewer backup, which is not otherwise eligible under the program.

• If parties are interested in submitting an application or learning more about this provincial program, please visit www.ontario.ca/disasterassistance. You can find the program guidelines, frequently asked questions and application forms on this website.

• Please note that this is a program is run by the province. If you need help with your application or have questions please write directly to the province at disasterassistance@ontario.ca or contact the information line at 1-877-822-0116.

• Application deadline for this program is: October 7, 2022. 

Application forms can be downloaded at www.ontario.ca/disasterassistance. Please note that there is now a separate form for homeowners/tenants and small businesses/farms/not-for-profits.