Hoarding is a mental health disorder characterized by the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value. Those suffering with hoarding have difficulties processing information, form strong emotional attachments to objects, and avoid seeking help. As a result, clutter builds to the point that health and safety issues emerge and daily activities of the resident are impaired. Some hoarders face loss of their home and are at risk for homelessness because of their housing conditions.

Approximately 15 million people in the United States, about three to five percent of the population, suffer from hoarding. Through community conversations serviced by the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP), MBHP found that many service providers had seen hoarding and were not prepared to provide adequate assistance or referrals.

Through interventions with tenants holding MBHP managed rental vouchers, MBHP learned that the clean-outs seen on TV hoarding programs were not the best intervention, as a clean-out does not address the resident’s underlying attachments to clutter, and often leads to re-acquisition of clutter. Instead, addressing hoarding requires patience, time, and a focus on creating lasting, behavioral change.

In 2011, the Oak Foundation provided a major, four-year grant to the Hoarding Intervention and Tenancy Preservation Project (HI/TPP). Under the grant, the HI/TPP has the following goals/objectives:

• Reduce the number of evictions and prevent homelessness caused by hoarding;

• Expand knowledge of hoarding and hoarding intervention techniques among housing professionals; and

• Influence public agencies and policies, including the courts, state agencies, and the state legislature to better address hoarding and guarantee program re-sources.