HOARDING Tackling the Broader Issues The Task Force Approach to Service Delivery

1. HOARDINGTackling the Broader IssuesThe Task Force Approach to Service Delivery

2. Hoarding Defined Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Mayo Clinic

3. Hoarding: The Problem • Contributing factors • Economic conditions • Aging population • Stressful life events • Brain Trauma • A history of alcohol abuse • Can occur anywhere: • Urban Areas • Suburbs • Rural areas • Rental or owner occupied

4. Who Fits the Profile? Hoarding behaviors can be exhibited by people of all ages, educational backgrounds, religious affiliation, social status and political leaning.

5. What Do People Hoard? • Trash and material of minor to no value • Newspapers • Old clothing • Animals • Food • Tires • Equipment and auto parts • WEAPONS

8. Impact of Hoarding • Self care becomes difficult • Health care is neglected • Social isolation • Risk of fire increases • Interior spaces are reduced • Mobility is reduced • Structural risks develop • Rodent Infestation

9. Impact on Others • Health Hazard: • Rodents and insects • Odors • Fire and Structural Risks: • Greater risk for public safety personnel • Fire loading • Risk of structural failure • Property values may be at risk • Good neighbor policy erodes • Complaints escalate

10. Hoarding Statistics • Compulsive Hoarding is reported to affect approximately 3 million Americans across the United States. • Up to a quarter million animals–250,000 per year–are victims of hoarding. • 46% people who hoard material are, or have been in therapy • 74% Felt therapy helped understand & change cluttering behavior. • The first reported hoarding task force in the United States was created in Fairfax County in 1989.

11. Alexandria Hoarding Task Force The Task Force developed a process to ensure that hoarding cases are referred to appropriate departments for occupant assessment, intervention, mental health services and support.  The task force meets monthly and on an emergency basis to track status of cases, address issues and develop action plans and work plans to remediate hoarding conditions. hoardingtaskforce@alexandriava.gov

12. The Hoarding Task Force Hoarding Task Forces are typically made up of a diverse group of professionals that include: • Department of Code Administration • Office of the Fire Marshal • Police Departments • Animal Control • Adult Protective Services • Child Protective Services • Mental Health Services • Geriatric Health services • Office of the City Attorney

13. Alexandria Task Force Mission • Ensure a safe, healthy living environment for those found to be hoarding and those who may be affected by a hoarding condition • Prevent hoarding behaviors from creating hazards for themselves and others • Evaluate the financial, physical and mental ability of the hoarder to address the conditions to be corrected • Guide and provide necessary resources to abate the unsafe/unhealthy conditions • Provide regular follow-up through the hoarding abatement process

14. Animal Control Officers Fire and Emergency Medical Service providers Building Management Commonwealth and City Attorney Hoarding Task Force Charity Organizations Sheriff Police Resources hoardingtaskforce@alexandriava.gov • Fire Marshals and Fire Inspectors • Building Official and Building Inspectors • Maintenance Code Official and Inspectors • Rebuilding Together Alexandria • Family • Friends • Department of Human Services • Adult Protective Services • Mental Health Professionals • Child Protective Services

15. How prevalent is hoarding in your jurisdiction? Does your jurisdiction have a formal policy or procedure for responding to hoarding situations, such as a task force or a lead agency? Do you have any recommendations on ways to improve the response to hoarding (e.g. new policies, procedures, coordination, regulations, laws)? Discussion

16. Thank you