Heck of a Hoarder!

[knoelle]

I have a neighbor, who is obviously a hoarder. There are four cars in their drive way filled with bags of trash (they are now shoving it under the cars) and you can see piles of it stacked up to the ceiling inside their house through the windows.

Is there any agency I can call to approach them about this? I am concerned about their safety, rodents and/or a possible fire…Any suggestions?

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[WSB]

Report it to DPD.

http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Compliance/Filing_a_Complaint/default.asp

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[k]

i wonder if it’s the same house in the neighborhood i used to live in? i don’t want to be specific, but if it is, just know that the person living there has some mental issues. she is very kind, but this goes deeper than hoarding. i know oprah has done shows about this and it’s pretty intense for people. just please try to handle this as gently as possible.

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[hammerhead]

I deal with these type of people all the time in my rescue work. Is it a hazard to you and her. In New York, the fire department now goes around looking for hoarders because of the fire hazards. You should probably go to a social services. If elderly contact a senior citizen organization. But with services being cut via the king county counsel. Things will get tougher.

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[west seattle golfer]

I walk by this house pretty often. Like K said, I think she has some mental issues. I’d love to see her get some help.

When I lived closer to there, I’d ride the bus to and from Downtown with her fairly often. She’d head into town in the morning with an empty collapsible shopping cart, and I’d see her again on the bus in the evening with the cart full of stuff, often struggling to get it off the bus.

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[knoelle]

All I wish to do is get them some help. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for over two years now and see it getting progressively worse. I actually live a block away…so there is no hazard to me. I have thought of approaching their ‘actual’ neighbor…but what do you say?

I did look into local help (thank you hammerhead) and found ‘Adult Protective Services’ and this situation falls under ‘self neglect’ and would make them ‘vulnerable adults’. If I were to file a concern…they would send someone out to investigate and then what happens, happens. APS did specify on their website, that they can not remove anyone from their home and can only help if they were amiable to the options.

I do not have any personal interaction with this situation, or I would try to start a dialog about it. So here I am…asking advice…do I call APS? Do I approach the true neighbor? Do I knock on the door and say ‘Hi! I gotta truck! Would you like me to make a trash run for you?’

Or…do I just turn my head and let it be?

knoelle

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[Zenguy]

Call APS, undoubtedly they have dealt with this situation before and have experience in aproaching this difficult situation. Since they cannot remove anyone from their home the individual can just say no and no harm done.

It is nice that people care about others they do not even know.

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[acemotel]

I don’t know if these folks are still around, but they were very helpful in a similar situation a few years ago:

Geriatric Regional Assessment Team / Evergreen Healthcare, 2414 SW Andover D120, Seattle 98106.

Phone: (206) 923-6300

If you can talk to Karen Kent, she is THE regional expert on hoarding. She occasionally gives workshops about this difficult condition.

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[GenHillOne]

From what I’ve seen on tv (FWIW), showing up with a truck – while generous – will probably do no good at all. It is, as already suggested, a mental/psychological issue that goes far beyond just clearing the stuff and the cases I’ve seen nearly go into cardiac arrest when they think someone might be taking their things. Definitely call the pros and personally, I would choose to talk to the neighbors, if only to inform them and have them onboard. They may be concerned as well and just not know where to turn.

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[j]

Okay, I thought I’d put in my two cents.

I’ve been trying to help my neighbor who is schizophrenic and has been living without water and electricity going on 6 years. Not to mention, she has a car in her driveway that we share that hasn’t been driven since 1986.

I wish you the best of luck trying to find help for your neighbor because I have tried all these resources and nothing happens. The city has come to inspect and only will fine her because she declines help. I’ve called APS and got nowhere. I’ve also tried calling the SW Precinct attorney after someone advised me to talk with her. Again, because their person does not accept help, there is nothing they can do. I’ve even had police officers at my door to find more information about her and their hands are also tied. Although, one year an officer did bring firewood for her to heat her house but she didn’t use it. We’ve even contacted the attorney’s responsible for her trust and nothing happens. Very sad.

All in all, I’ve learned that watching her freeze all winter long, using nothing for heat or candles for light, is something that I’m going to have to live with. However, I will continue calling resources and making a big stink until someone takes action.

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