Hoarding Recovery

The Care for You Hoarding Recovery Service is presented as a separate page for a number of reasons. First, about the only similarity between hoarded homes and homes with excessive clutter is that both have excessive clutter. A major difference between the individuals inhabiting those different households is that the hoarder does not want to get rid of anything whereas the person with excessive clutter is happy to be rid of it.

Following from the distinction between those willing and unwilling to recreate a “clean well-lighted place,” hoarders are eventually served an eviction notice if they live in a residence with common walls: e.g., condominium, town house or apartment. The hoarded home creates a fire and health hazard to both the resident and the neighbors. Over the nearly 10 years Care for You has been offering a hoarding recovery service, success has almost always required the threat of eviction. Otherwise, the true hoarder will not initiate the required action to start the project.

A third reason our Hoarding Recovery Service is on its own page is that it is not a single service. Rather, it is an integrated and coordinated set of services.

A Hoarding Recovery project usually starts with a phone call from someone who has received an eviction notice. A Care for You representative then sets an appointment for an in-home assessment. The assessment will allow an initial determination of the skills, services and time needed to complete the project. With this information, a stay of eviction is sought. Outside entities that can become involved include apartment management, condo associations, government entities – health, public works – and legal professionals.