The Second Responders for
Residential Fire Survivors
First responders handle the emergency. We help you understand what comes next.
No one should have to navigate the aftermath of a disaster alone. The Gathered Home Collective is a survivor-founded nonprofit organization bridging the gap between when emergency services leave and when families can return home following a residential fire in Ohio.
More than 10,000 residential fires happen in Ohio annually, meaning a family faces this crisis more than once an hour, 365 days a year. First responders provide heroic immediate aid, but their role typically ends after 72 hours.
Because isolated house fires are not federally declared mass disasters, displaced fire survivors are a frequently overlooked community. When the sirens fade, families face a sudden "72-Hour Cliff"—forced to navigate immediate displacement, complex insurance claims, and aggressive predatory contractors while still in a state of deep shock.
Facing the "72-Hour Cliff"
Accessing support after a house fire shouldn’t be based on who and what you know. As a dedicated recovery logistics hub, we empower independent decision-making by putting trauma-informed tools directly into the hands of survivors. We do not recreate the disaster relief system; instead, we act as a bridge, giving control back to displaced families so they can rebuild from a space of stability rather than chaos.
Regaining stability and control
Provided completely free of charge to individuals and families displaced by fires in Franklin County, our comprehensive system equips households with the practical tools needed to navigate the business of recovery.
Gather: We connect survivors to a trusted ecosystem of local care to prevent isolation, providing a step-by-step recovery workbook that breaks complex decisions into manageable pieces.
Ground: We provide the Sunrise Kit, a personalized transitional gift designed for the entire household. It is filled with high-quality household essentials and sensory items to bring immediate stability, warmth, and comfort to temporary housing. We also provide the Little Suns Pack, a dedicated backpack containing school supplies and tools intended to help children maintain their daily routine and classwork.
Guide: We supply a structured, fireproof command center to safely manage logistics and vital documentation, alongside an optional peer-to-peer check-in with a fellow residential fire survivor.
Tools for the journey ahead
