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Creating a Hoarding Task Force
This document outlines steps for assembling a hoarding task force to address hoarding issues in a jurisdiction. It recommends deciding if a multi-agency effort is needed, identifying at-risk individuals and properties, and adopting codes to allow interior inspections. Key agencies are brought together to discuss the problem and understand limitations. The task force develops approaches, solidifies its mission, and streamlines the process to efficiently assist clients while providing community education.
Creating a Hoarding Task Force
- 1.
- 2. Step One • Decideif the need in your jurisdiction is great enough to warrant a multi- agency effort • Determine the extent of the hoarding problem in your jurisdiction • Identify the traits, indicators of, and behavior of those persons and properties at risk • Understand the mental health complexities that allow a person to remain in or to ignore an unsafe living environment • Decide that your jurisdiction will conduct interior inspections • Adopt the Virginia Maintenance Code or agree to utilize the Virginia Statewide Fire Code in residential settings or utilize whatever your State and local codes available to you to support enforcement • Decide on how will investigate complaints • Will it be on a Complaint basis? • Becomes a non-routine inspection • Focus on life-safety violations
- 3. Step Two • Getthe Key Players in a room to start a discussion. Initially, this may be: • Property Maintenance or Building Code Enforcement • Fire Marshal • Adult Protective Services • Eventually assess membership and participation of participating agencies and recommend changes when needed; invite new agencies to join/ get buy-in from Agency Heads. • Understand each agency’s limitations and capacities and RESPECT LIMITIATIONS!
- 4. Greater Task Force Agencies •Fire and Rescue Department • Department of Family Services • APS • CPS • Office of Mental Health Services (CSB) • Mobile Crisis Unit (Emergency Response) • Program for Older Adults and Families • Adult Clinical Services Program Eventually the following agencies might be invited to attend:
- 5. Agencies Cont. • Housingand Community Development • Blight Abatement Program • Home Improvement Loan Program • Health Department • Department of Public Works and Environmental Services • Building Code Services • Solid Waste Collection and Recycling • Solid Waste Disposal and Recovery • Sheriff’s Office
- 6. Agencies Cont. • CountyAttorney’s Office • Office of Public Affairs • Zoning Enforcement • Animal Services (FCPD) • Police Department • County Board of Supervisors/City Council • Bordering municipalities
- 7. Step 3 • Solidifyyour Purpose • Produce a Mission Statement and Objectives • Develop approaches and/or procedures for managing hoarding cases; and take appropriate steps together when warranted and feasible • Develop procedures for solutions related to issues and concerns, such as: • Elderly that need assistance • Mental Health approaches • Obtaining inspection warrants, as a last resort
- 8. Step Four • Solidifyyour Mission with your Executive Powers • Board or Supervisors • City Manager • Other Local Authority • Possibly write a Charter and get it approved • Maybe local funding?
- 9. Step Five • Streamlineyour process to be Efficient and Effective with the fewest number of people serving a client. • Make Jurisdiction changes/improvements to enhance efforts. • Work beyond Case Investigation • Outreach Opportunities: • Training and education for target audiences. • Build community awareness of the problem.
- 10. Summary Hoarding Task Force •Provides a coordinated approach • Fosters stronger lines of communication between agencies • Provides better understanding of available resources and limitations of each agency • Increases ability of agencies to identify properties at risk • Provides outreach and education to the public on the problem of hoarding • Always strives for improvement to the process and to the positive outcome for the community