From Identification to Intervention: Fair Housing-Compliant Approaches to Managing Hoarding Situations

It’s estimated that hoarding disorders affect up to 6% of the population, presenting unique challenges for apartment managers who must balance compassion for residents with legal obligations to maintain safe, sanitary living conditions. This session explores effective approaches to identifying, addressing, and resolving hoarding situations while maintaining positive tenant relationships and protecting property values.

Hoarding disorder is a recognized mental health condition characterized by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value. Unlike collectors who curate and organize their items, individuals with hoarding disorder accumulate objects that create unsafe or unsanitary living conditions.

For property managers, it's crucial to recognize that hoarding is not simply a lifestyle choice or personal preference but rather a recognized disability. It's a complex condition often accompanied by anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Residents who hoard typically experience intense distress at the thought of discarding items and may lack insight into the severity of their situation.

Managing hoarding situations requires patience, compassion, and a systematic approach. By understanding the complex nature of hoarding disorder, establishing clear procedures, building community partnerships, and balancing enforcement with support, property managers can effectively address these challenging situations.

Remember that successful outcomes often involve incremental improvements rather than immediate transformation. With appropriate intervention, many residents can achieve and maintain safer living environments while preserving their housing stability. This balanced approach protects both residents and property interests while upholding the community standards essential to successful property management.

Webinar Objectives

• Understand Fair Housing compliance obligations regarding hoarding as a disability.
• Differentiate between hoarding disorder and general clutter or poor housekeeping.
• Identify the health, safety, and property risks associated with hoarding.
• Learn why eviction should be a last resort and explore alternative solutions.
• Develop strategies for working with residents who have hoarding disorder.
• Discover key community resources and professional support options.
• Gain practical guidance on effective intervention and remediation strategies.

Webinar Highlights

• What exactly is Hoarding?
• Clutter or Disability?
• What to look for?
• Who should be involved in resolving?
• Creating a plan to correct
• Managing the plan to correct
• Typical challenges encountered
• “What if” list
• Summary of best practices

Who Should Attend

Regional/Area Managers, Community Managers and Assistant Managers, Leasing Managers, Leasing Professionals, Service Managers, Service Technicians, Training, Compliance and HR Professionals.