Katie and Jordan and their four children (ages 7, 3, 2 and 1) were living in a one-bedroom flat in Dublin 8 when they were woken at around 2:00am to alarms and discovered the building was on fire. The fire is believed to have been deliberately started (not meant for their home) and is currently under investigation.

They had to flee immediately in the middle of the night with four small children. Their home and belongings have been devastated — clothes, shoes, furniture, toys, baby items and essentials are now smoke-damaged and/or burned, leaving the family with very little that is safe to use.

All of their key household items have been affected, including beds and mattresses, couches/sofas, tables, wardrobes, and other furniture, as well as essential day-to-day items. One of the children has suffered burn injuries, and Jordan has also sustained burns. One of the children has severe autism, and the entire family is understandably traumatised.

Given the extent of the damage and the fact they were already living in severe overcrowding (a one-bedroom flat with four small children, including disability needs), this family will now need to be rehoused, and they will need help to set up a new home when suitable accommodation is secured.

We are raising funds to support them through the immediate emergency and to help them rebuild once they are rehoused.

Funds will be used for:

• Safe temporary accommodation in a hotel/family room (so the children can bathe, sleep safely, and the parents can care for them properly — a family hub setting is not appropriate given the trauma and disability needs)

• Clothing and shoes for all four children and both parents

• Nappies/wipes, baby supplies, toiletries

• Bedding, towels, basic household essentials

• Disability/sensory supports to help the autistic child cope

• Food and transport to appointments and follow-up care

• Replacing essential furniture and household items when they are rehoused (e.g., beds/mattresses, sofa, table/chairs, storage, and other basics needed to make a safe home)

Any donation — no matter how small — or even a share helps enormously. Thank you for supporting Katie, Jordan and the children through this.