Hoarding and squalor

Page content: Overview | Defining hoarding and squalor | Hoarding and squalor project 2012-13 | Discussion paper hoarding and squalor 2012 | Download documents

Overview

The Department of Health is aware of issues affecting service providers when responding to cases involving hoarding and squalor. The department acknowledges that these cases are complex and progress can be slow, with many not reaching a resolution. An objective may be to ensure safety for the person concerned.

Such circumstances are challenging - for the individual concerned, their families and neighbours and the broad range and number of service providers that respond to such cases.

By services working together, effective response and understanding will gradually develop over time, which in turn will provide improved outcomes for the people and animals living in these conditions.

Defining hoarding and squalor

People of all ages including children, may hoard or live in squalor and can be found in any type of housing and living situation.

Circumstances surrounding cases involving hoarding and squalor are not defined by financial means nor a person’s standing in the community.

• Hoarding is recognised as a diagnosable, and treatable, behavioural mental health condition
• Squalor describes a living environment
• Prolonged or extreme hoarding may lead to squalor.

Hoarding behaviour and squalid living environments can pose a number of associated problems and concerns in a person's life which may involve laws, policies and living requirements in areas as diverse as:

• sanitation
• personal safety
• fire risk
• mental health
• physical health
• animal protection
• building safety
• child protection
• housing

Hoarding and squalor project 2012 - 2013

As part of a short term project, a hoarding and squalor practical resource is being developed to guide service delivery and practice and build service system capacity to respond to hoarding and squalor situations.

The development of the practical resource draws on a range of sources, including the expertise of Victorian service providers who have developed good practice approaches in working with people, their families, carers or neighbours affected by such cases.

The practical resource will be available in early 2013. For further information refer to the promotional flyer Service response to hoarding and squalor below.

Discussion paper hoarding and squalor 2012

The Department of Health Discussion paper hoarding and squalor, documents what is known about hoarding and squalor related behaviours and existing clinical and practical service response in Victoria.

The document has been split into the following sections:

• Compulsive hoarding
• Domestic squalor
• Interrelationship between hoarding, squalor and collectionism
• Managing risk
• Effective intervention
• Assessment and testing tools
• Service response
• Victorian response – strengths and weaknesses
• Future policy and service response considerations
• Conclusion
  

This paper supports the short term project and is only available in soft copy, from the downloads section below.

For further information and feedback contact aged.care@health.vic.gov.au or telephone (03) 9096 7389.

Download documents

Flyer - Service response to hoarding and squalor - a practical resource available early 2013 (27kb, pdf)

Discussion paper hoarding and squalor - 2012 (1,500 kb, pdf)

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