SAN FRANCISCO TACKLES COMPULSIVE HOARDING
Public-private partnership addressing one of the causes of homelessness...

San Francisco, CA – For some people, collecting or being unable to discard things reaches the point that their homes become fire or public health hazards, resulting in evictions and tearing families apart. A public-private partnership in San Francisco is looking for answers.

 San Francisco’s Department of Aging and Adult Services and the Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHA-SF) have launched a City-wide Task Force on Compulsive Hoarding. The Task Force, which includes representatives from City departments, housing and service providers is working to improve the coordination of services, reduce evictions, and improve the quality of life for those who compulsively hoard.

“Some people clutter their homes to such an extent that their movement is restricted to narrow pathways through their stuff," said Belinda Lyons, Executive Director of MHA-SF. “We hope the Task Force will raise awareness that compulsive hoarding is a serious and treatable mental illness. People affected by compulsive hoarding don’t need to struggle alone." 

An estimated 1-2 million Americans collect or fail to discard objects to the point that the clutter impairs basic living activities.  Hoarding is often hidden, and typically only the most severe cases are reported to police or public health departments.

In addition to convening the Task Force, MHA-SF has created an Institute on Compulsive Hoarding and Cluttering (ICHC). The ICHC is launching a series of trainings for members of the public and social service professionals.

A public seminar for family members of those who compulsively hoard will be held on Tuesday, March 18, from 6-8 pm, at the World Affair Council at 312 Sutter Street, San Francisco. The seminar will be lead by local hoarding expert Dr. Michael Tompkins of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy. Further information is available at www.mha-sf.org.

“It’s about time that experts, law enforcement, and public and private service providers have come together to address compulsive hoarding,” said Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a member of the Task Force. “There’s a light at the end of this tunnel.”

MHA-SF is a non-profit citizen's organization founded in 1947 dedicated to improving the mental health of residents in the diverse communities of San Francisco through advocacy, education, research and service.

Click here for Task Force overview
Click here for Task Force member list