Emergency Repair Program
The Emergency Repair Program (ERP) assists eligible homeowners or occupiers in rural areas to undertake emergency repairs required for the continued safe occupancy of their houses. A significant portion of this program is directed to the Aboriginal people of Canada. Funding is provided jointly by the Government of Canada (75%) and the Province of Nova Scotia (25%).
Eligibility
You may be eligible for this program if
- You live in a rural area. (This includes communities of 2,500 population or less and larger communities that do not have a distinctive core area with a population of more than 2,500.);
- Your house requires urgent repairs so that you can continue to live in it safely; and
- Your total household income is below the established income ceiling; these vary by household size and by area.
Description
ERP helps home owners in rural areas pay for emergency repairs to keep their homes safe for occupancy.
Eligible Repairs
You will be assisted only for those repairs urgently required to make your house safe. Included are repairs to:
- heating systems
- chimneys
- doors and windows
- foundations
- roofs, walls, floors and ceilings
- vents, louvres
- plumbing
- electrical systems
There is no requirement that these repairs bring houses up to minimum property standards.
Eligible Costs
Funds are for the purchase of materials and for contracted labour.
Assistance
The financial assistance is in the form of a contribution, which does not have to be repaid. The total contribution depends on the cost of the repairs. The maximum grant available is $6,000.
Next steps
Contact the nearest Housing Services office of the Department of Community Services.