The Ministry of Municipal Affairs made a stop in Windsor to talk to residents about the province's Disaster Recovery Assistance Program.
Two information sessions were held Thursday at the Caboto Club, drawing little attention.
The evening session was best attended with about 75 residents showing up to ask questions.
Garnet Ryan lives in East Windsor and says he left the meeting disappointed.
"This is the second time that it's happened to us. We were involved with the one last September. This time we lost all the furniture in the basement. The meeting was interesting , but it can't help us at all, unfortunately."
Resident Ron Lauren says he'd like to see the eligibility criteria opened up.
"We were hoping to get some help in fixing the basement walls. No, it doesn't cover that. Disappointed. Yeah, disappointed. If you've spent a lot of money on a rec room and a lot of things got damaged, it's not covered at all. A rec room is not an essential living area."
Resident Dave Lucier says, unfortunately, the program isn't going to help him.
"I'm on my third flood in my location and flood insurance wasn't available. So this one is on my dime. So we're looking to see if we can get the government to help out a little bit and the criteria seems to be very tight. So I'm suspecting I'm not going to get anything."
Pamphlets offered at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Disaster Recovery Assistance Program meeting in Windsor on September 28, 2017 (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Richard Stromberg is with the Ministry and says, at this point, the program only covers the essentials.
"First of all, we're hoping they have insurance because insurance is the first thing we'll look at. But essentials, so the water heater, the furnace, even winter clothes and then to help with the cost of the clean up itself. The cleaning supplies, the labour, especially if you have a contractor in, but even if you do it yourself, we'll help with some of that."
Stromberg adds, they're helping as many people as they can.
"We know it's a tough time, but we also know that when some of those essentials are effected by over land flooding, we will try to help you. When you submit the application make sure you've got it signed, you've got all the information we ask for, you've got your receipts, the documents and that will help us help you and it'll also give more time for us to help your neighbours."
Stromberg says since the program was launched a month ago, the province has only received just over 30 applications from the Windsor area.
But he's confident that number will increase dramatically as homeowners continue to get repairs done.
For more info about the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program head to www.mah.gov.on.ca.