Whatever it is you're living in
just remember, you are not the only one, you deserve better!
If you are
faced with cleaning up years of hoarded clutter, you are certainly
feeling overwhelmed and asking yourself,
"Where do I start?" We clean up the worst possible situations that a person
could face in his or her lifetime including: out of control mess and
clutter, compulsive hoarding cases, unbearable squalor, and other.
Remember - You are NOT a bad person, just a bad
housekeeper.
Is Your Home Functional, Safe, and
Healthy?
Below is a list of questions
that will determine how much your daily living has been affected by your
hoarding or clutter problem and what degree your home may be a health
hazard. Answer the questions honestly. If you have even some difficulty,
answer yes.
Can you do
the following activities?
Y/N Cook in your
oven
Y/N Cook on the stove
Y/N Eat at the kitchen table
Y/N Use the countertops
Y/N Put item into cupboards
Y/N Use kitchen sink
Y/N Wash dishes in the dishwasher
Y/N Do laundry
Y/N Use stairs with ease (if any)
Y/N Sit on every chair or sofa in
the house
Y/N Sleep in your bed
Y/N Find things easily
Y/N Use all toilets
Y/N Use all showers
Y/N Clean the house/apartment
Y/N Allow repairmen into your home
Y/N Do paperwork at a desk or
table
Y/N Your children can play in the
house freely
Y/N Entertain people at the
house/apartment
Y/N Use the trunk or backseat of
your car
Now think
whether your home is safe.
Y/N Are entrances
to your house/apartment blocked?
Y/N Is the staircase (if any)
filled with objects?
Y/N Are the boilers or heaters
surrounded by objects?
Y/N Is there mold in some rooms?
Y/N Is the cleanliness of the
house compromised?
Y/N Have dirt and allergens built
up?
Y/N Is there insect infestation
due to clutter?
Y/N Is the paint peeling?
Y/N Are there pathways instead of
empty space to walk?
Y/N Is there animal waste in the
house?
Y/N Is there spoiled or expired
food in the house?
You must know,
you are not the only person to struggle with this problem. It is not an
easy task, but can be beaten, and it is well worth it.
We will not judge you, we are here to help in any way we possibly can.
You do not have to do this alone!
Think of goals to work toward and achieve.
Start with these:
Increase functional living space in your home
Create appropriate storage spaces for possessions
Correct irrational thinking
Improve family relations
Improve decision making and organizational skills
Improve quality of life"
Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding
The must have
book by:Fugen Neziroglu, Ph.D., Jerome Bubrick, Ph.D. and Jose
Yaryura-Tobias, M.D.
"Years ago, before
hoarding was recognized as a psychological problem deserving of
compassion, the courts would order a hoarder to vacate the house or
apartment. When the person was unable to do so, the courts would just
send over a county Dumpster, clean up the home, and often throw the
person out on the streets. You can imagine how devastating that would be
for anyone, and especially for people who have difficulty parting with
their possessions.
There were people
who committed suicide after they were evicted and all their possessions
were thrown into Dumpsters. Other people and animals died in their own
homes because they were unable to escape fires. Others, including the
elderly, were living on the streets with nowhere to go after being
evicted. Tragedies like these brought awareness of the problem of severe
hoarding to the county and state level.
The legal system
will intervene if county fire and housing codes are not followed.
Do not be frightened
by all the legal ramifications, because agencies are now aware that
hoarders need treatment, not punishment. As long as you understand and
are willing to engage in treatment to overcome the problem, the legal
system will work with you.”
Tenants and
landlords have more than just legal proceedings at their disposal. A
tenant can ask the landlord for a reasonable accommodation. Usually, the
tenant must prove she/he has a disability that justifies the
accommodation. This often buys the tenant some time to get the cluttered
apartment under control, haul away or donate hoarded items and, if
necessary, to get some psychological help confronting and perhaps
reducing the problem.
Consequently, a Three-Day Notice to Cure or Quit served to the tenant.
Just as a person
surrounded by piles must eventually confront the mess, landlords need to
be aware that the problem exists. Landlords should also recognize that
there is more than one way to manage or solve the problem, by working
with the tenant or by using an action plan that has been successful for
other landlords and property managers. Landlords can be more efficient
and judicious in handling the issue of cluttering and hoarding by
understanding the motivation and causes of this behavior, as well as
knowing the options available for both tenants and landlords in dealing
with this condition.
