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Responding now: Halvard River flood (example)

Shelterbelt Relief · Canada
Our work

Rebuild · Program

Rebuilding homes

Clean-up, repairs and the long, unglamorous work of getting home.

The cameras leave after the first week. The hard part starts after that. Wet drywall has to come out. Floors have to dry. Roofs need patching before winter.

Our crews help homeowners and renters clean up safely, then licensed trades volunteers lead repairs. For families without enough insurance, repair grants cover the gap on the work that matters most.

A roofer in a white hard hat fastening new asphalt shingles on a house roof

At a glance

Example figures
How long we stay in a community after a major response (example)
12 mo
Steps every home gets: clean, dry, repair
3
Typical repair grant ceiling per household (example)
$8,000

What it includes

What families can count on

  • Free clean-up kits: gloves, masks, buckets, bleach and tarps
  • Muck-out and drying crews, with dehumidifiers on loan
  • Damage assessments with a written list of what's needed
  • Repairs led by licensed trades volunteers
  • Repair grants for households without enough insurance
  • Help with insurance and government forms

How it works

Step by step

  1. Step 1

    Assess

    A crew lead walks through the home with the family and writes down what is needed.

  2. Step 2

    Clean and dry

    Volunteers remove wet materials and set up drying equipment to stop mould.

  3. Step 3

    Repair

    Licensed trades volunteers fix roofs, walls, floors and essentials, in order of safety.

  4. Step 4

    Close out

    We walk through the finished work together and check back before the next season.

A worker in a cap tapes a new drywall ceiling in a bright room under repair
Trades volunteers rebuild drywall, floors and roofs, led by licensed crew leads.

Questions about rebuilding homes

Do you help renters?

Yes. Renters get clean-up help, replacement essentials and casework. Repairs to the building itself are arranged with the landlord.

Who does the repair work?

Volunteer crews do clean-up. Electrical, gas and structural work is always done or supervised by licensed trades.

How do repair grants work?

A caseworker reviews your insurance and other help first. Grants then cover the most important gaps, paid to the contractor or supplier.

All questions and answers →

Other programs

Give to rebuilding homes

Keep rebuilding homes ready for the next call.

Volunteer crews muck out and dry homes, licensed trades lead repairs, and repair grants help families who are underinsured.

Gift amount in Canadian dollars
How often

Prefer a steady gift? See monthly giving. Every gift gets a receipt.

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