Article written by Terry Prince in 2003, published in the NSGCD newsletter - The Chronical explaining the complexities of understanding hoarding. All rights reserved by Terry Prince
Organizations providing helpful Information and Resources
Institute of Compulsive Hoarding This organization is currently part of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, CA, USA. The Institute has several resources, offers a few classes and gives suggestions for treatment programs.
Hoarding Conferences
Several communities run annual or bi-annual Hoarding Conferences. These conferences are generally open to consumers, landlords, fire and code enforcement, professional organizers, department on aging, social workers and mental health practitioners, adult and or child protection agencies (APS, CPS, DFS). Other interested parties include regional providers of gas and electric utilities, specialty cleaners, home heath and personal care providers, restoration workers and safety equipment vendors.
Many communities and counties have active or in-active hoarding (project complete) task forces. These task forces often culminate with a conference between interested parties. See Hoarding Conferences for more information. Some have active web sites and others have produced helpful literature.
An important perspective article from the NFPA journal (November 2006) is Establishing a Hoarding Taskforce It was reprinted on the Northern Virgina Joint Committee on Fire and Arson website. http://www.nvjcfa.org/articles/article/6294756/105447.htm Of specific note was the section - "In December 2000, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released America at Risk: Findings and Recommendations on the Role of the Fire Service in the Prevention and Control of Risks in America. This report concluded that, as a community's primary first responder, the fire service is responsible for all local hazards, including hoarding, a local hazard that is dangerous to firefighters".
Phone coaching available in all 50 states and Canadian provinces including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, NYC, Chicago, Boston, Portland, Los Angeles, Toronto, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Seattle.
On-site Organizing Services in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, West Sacramento, Arden, Fair Oaks, Davis, Gold River, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, Granite Bay, Carmichael, Lincoln, Loomis, Natomas, Galt, Lodi, El Dorado Hills, and Woodland. Sacramento Organizer Elk Grove Organizer