The mission of the Hamilton County Hoarding Collaborative is to provide a fair and standardized approach to working with people in hoarding situations, while providing resources, education, and guidance to the community. Download our Hamilton County Hoarding Collaborative Brochure here.

How Can I Tell If I am a Hoarder?

• Avoid throwing away possessions (common hoarded items are newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, photographs, household supplies, food, and clothing);
• Experience severe anxiety about discarding possessions;
• Have trouble making decisions about organizing possessions;
• Anxious about others touching possessions;
• Obsessive thoughts about possessions (e.g., fear of running out of an item and needing it later—checking the garbage to see what was discarded ) ;
• Functional impairments (e.g., loss of living space, no place to eat, sleep or cook), and social isolation.

Where Do I Start?

1. Decide to start NOW .
2. Involve others who care about you and your situation.
3. Develop a plan and set goals.
4. Be patient – Your problems were not created overnight and they are not going to be fixed overnight.
5. Make three piles, one room at a time.
   1. Donate —items should be donated the same day.
   2. Put away—items to keep.
   3. Discard —items should be discarded the same day.

How Do I Help Others Whom I Feel Might be Hoarders?

• Don’t use judgmental language – match their language; don’t use words that devalue their possessions .
• Make positive suggestions — highlight their strengths.
• Avoid touching their possessions —let them do the work and make the decisions .
• Focus on safety first — ensure that all utilities are on, there are adequate pathways throughout the home, HVAC registers are clear and working, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available and working .
• Involve as many family and friends as you can .
• Refer to other agencies (in our brochure).

Additional Resources

• Adult Protective Services
• Child Protective Services
• Cincinnati Building Department
• Cincinnati Health Department
• Council on Aging
• Hamilton County Building Department
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME)
• Hoarding Brochure from Hamilton County Public Health
• Mental Health Access Point (MHAP)
• Mobile Crisis Team at University Hospital
• Private Practice
• Professional Organization Services
• SPCA Cincinnati
• Support Groups
• Talbert House