Please Help my brother Joe Rebuild His Life After Devastating NYC Fire

He Lost Everything.

While he was out of state to help me with urgent home repairs, a catastrophic fire destroyed the building where he had lived for nearly 30 years.

Joe had driven all the way from New York to Florida to help me with serious water and pump issues. He packed only a small bag — a toothbrush and a change of clothes — leaving behind everything else. Because of the warm weather, he didn’t even bring a coat.

During that time, the fire occurred. We Thank God none of his family members were there.

What began as a fire has now become a total structural collapse. The roof fell into his third-floor apartment,(the one at the top with the flames coming out of the windows) and that apartment has since collapsed into the second floor below. The building is unsafe, and nothing inside is recoverable.

While we are profoundly grateful that no lives were lost, and for the amazing and brave Fire Fighters, Joe is now homeless and has absolutely nothing. The Red Cross was only able to provide a two-day hotel voucher, and he has no home to return to.

Everything Joe owned was inside that apartment — every possession that would normally make up an entire home. This included all their furniture from every room, appliances, clothing, televisions and electronics, computers and storage devices, personal and family records, and decades’ worth of belongings accumulated over nearly 30 years — including:

All personal identification and vital documents

Household belongings, All of his tools, Appliances, televisions, and electronics, game systems , Computers, hard drives, and irreplaceable digital records

Family photo albums — printed and digital

An entire personal library collected over decades

Jewelry and personal savings

Irreplaceable items from our late mother (our family’s Nona) and our brother Jimmy, who passed away shortly after from illness related to 9/11 FDNY service

Many of these items, particularly the sentimental and deeply personal ones, can never be replaced.

Joe has always been the person who shows up. He has spent years helping others — family, friends, anyone in need — often putting his own needs last. When I went through some of the hardest moments of my life, he was there without hesitation.

Now, he needs help.

He is starting from absolute zero — without a home, without belongings, without documents, and without even basic clothing appropriate for the weather.

He arrived in Florida without even a coat — and now has nothing to return to.

Funds raised will help with:

Emergency and transitional housing

Hotel and food expenses in New York City

Basic clothing and daily necessities

Replacing identification and essential documents

Transportation and living expenses

Stabilizing his life so he can begin to rebuild

In New York City, even short-term housing, food, and the most basic replacements add up quickly. This fundraiser reflects the reality of starting over from nothing.

Any amount helps. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you for helping my brother Joe begin again after this unimaginable loss.