Emergency Disaster Assistance

What is EDA Program

Thanks to the generosity of the public and private sector partners, The Salvation Army can provide financial and material assistance following a single incident emergency. The Emergency and Disaster Assistance Program, or EDA, is available throughout Australia and is specific support for people who have experienced an emergency that has impacted their primary place of residence, including their personal or household items, within the previous three months.

The assistance is free of means tests, independent of insurance arrangements, not dependent on citizenship status and available for whatever need the person feels is their priority. Assistance will be provided through a debit card or direct bank deposit.

What is a Single Incident Emergency?

A ‘single incident emergency’ is any event outside the usual range of human experience that is distressing and evokes feelings of fear, helplessness and/or horror. It usually involves a perceived or actual threat to a person or person’s safety and wellbeing. There may be death, serious injury, displacement and/or destruction of valuable assets/home.

Emergencies can be the result of natural phenomenon, or human intervention including a deliberate act of sabotage or terrorism.

These events include but are not limited to:

• Single dwelling destruction by fire, explosion
• Bushfire
• Flood
• Storm
• Earthquake, landslide or collapse
• Gas or chemical leak, explosion

• Siege or act of terrorism

Eligibility for Assistance

Individuals impacted by the emergency or subsequent responses of emergency services and statutory authorities are eligible if their immediate survival and/or financial well-being are affected.

Individuals are eligible if they have experienced any of the following in the previous 3 months (allowances can be made in circumstances of incarceration or hospitalisation): • Resident where the emergency occurred

AND

• Suffered loss of personal or household items

OR

• Suffered damage to residence OR • Lost services necessary for health/safety for more than 5 days (power, water)

OR

• Decreased capacity to pay expenses for short-term survival.

Note: Damage to outbuildings, sheds and fences that do not impact the safety of accommodation, as well as circumstances caused due to the neglect of regular maintenance by the landlord are not covered.

For any inquiries, assistance, or if you have experienced an emergency that has impacted your residence, please contact our office at 58-60 Mortlake Road, Warrnambool. You can reach us at 03 5561 8444.