This provides a quick assessment of the volume of possessions in the home, and is best used as a preliminary tool. It can help provide common language when communicating with colleagues/other services. It does not indicate level of risk.
The WGHR developed this tool as a way of opening the conversation about home safety with clients. We collaborated with local fire, public health, housing, animal and other services to create this tool, based on some of the common concerns found in homes with hoarding.
Note that medications should be disposed of by taking them to your local pharmacy.
If you are someone who is challenged by hoarding, you may want to explore counselling to help change your thinking patterns about your items. A form of therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been modified specifically for people who struggle with hoarding.
Below is a list of places that offer counselling in Wellington and Guelph. These agencies are not specialized to work specifically with hoarding, but may offer CBT.
Please note: we do not recommend or endorse any service. This list is meant to provide a starting point from which to explore options.
We have compiled a list of places that accept donations, consignment stores, and other possible disposal resources. Many people find it easier to let go of items, if they know their things are going to a good home, or are not contributing to environmental damage (i.e. are recycled or disposed of properly).
We do our best to keep this list current. Please let us know if the information on this list has become out of date or changed.
Please note: we do not recommend or endorse any service. This list is meant to provide a starting point from which to explore options.
Download a list of cleaning companies and professional organizers who work locally in Guelph and Wellington County and have experience working with hoarding situations.
You can also search for professional organizers on the following sites:
Click on “Find an Organizer” – search for an organizer who works with “chronic disorganization”.
Click on “Find an Organizer”.
We do our best to keep this list current. Please let us know if the information on this list has become out of date or changed.
Please note: We do not endorse or recommend any service on this list. It is meant to be a starting point from which to explore options.
Download the list of cleaning companies and professional organizers who work locally in Guelph and Wellington County.
MassHousing has a number of information and tip sheets about hoarding
There are a variety of books about hoarding. This list has a summary of the book, as well as who might benefit from reading it – a service provider, family member/loved one, or someone who struggles with hoarding.
There are many books about organizing, with different approaches, strategies, and tips – far too many for us to list here. One approach may be more appealing or be more effective for one person than another. A word of caution: it can be tempting to buy books on organizing in the hopes that it will provide the perfect solution. We recommend choosing one or two books, and working on the strategies on those books before buying/borrowing more books.
A couple of websites that people with hoarding difficulties may find helpful are:
Please note: The WGHR does not recommend or endorse any service or product. This list is meant to be a starting point from which to explore resources.
Bed bugs are a growing problem in many communities. They are incredibly easy to bring home unknowingly, and anyone can get bed bugs. In some cases it’s as simple as one hitching a ride from a seat on a bus, at a movie theatre, or restaurant. Treating bed bugs can be costly and labour-intensive.
Having a cluttered home may make it more difficult to treat bed bugs, as they can hide in the tiniest of spaces. It may be necessary to discard many belongings in order to treat bed bugs effectively.
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