Hoarding disorder and homelessness

Hoarding is a mental health problem that affects 2-5% of the population. It often goes misunderstood, and it is not as well-known as other mental health problems. But its impact can be devastating, especially when linked to homelessness.

People who hoard may end up living in unsafe housing or even lose their homes. We unpick why people hoard, its link to homelessness, and how we support people.

What is hoarding?

Hoarding is when someone has so many things that they cannot keep their home organised or clean.

Hoarding becomes a problem when:

• The clutter gets in the way of everyday life—like being unable to move around the house or use the kitchen or bathroom to cook or clean.
• It causes stress or makes life difficult for the person or their family—for example, the person hoarding gets upset if someone tries to help by cleaning up.

With typical messiness, a person will know when their space is cluttered. But people who hoard often don’t see how it affects them and their loved ones.

Some people may know they are hoarders but do not ask for help because they feel ashamed, humiliated, or guilty.

Why do people hoard?

Many of us have special things that we like to hold onto. But that is different from hoarding. People who hoard feel an intense emotional connection to their belongings. This attachment can begin after a traumatic experience, like losing a loved one. Sometimes, even the person hoarding cannot explain why their things are so important to them.

Hoarding is a mental health problem on its own and is often linked to self-neglect. Other mental health problems or physical disabilities can also be associated with it.

People who hoard are more likely to:

1. Live alone
2. Be unmarried
3. Had a difficult childhood, such as neglect or a poor relationship with their family
4. Have a family history of hoarding

Many of the things kept are of little value, and most people consider them rubbish. But they often make people who hoard feel safe, remind them of memories, or give them a sense of control.

Throwing things away can cause intense anxiety for the person. So, they will often avoid deciding what to chuck as it is too overwhelming.

What’s the difference between hoarding and collecting?

The main differences are:

• How the items are organised
• How much it impacts someone’s life

Collecting involves carefully choosing items like vinyl records or stamps. These items are usually well-organised and displayed neatly or stored in folders. Hoarding, on the other hand, is less selective. Things are not organised to make them easy to use or find.

How hoarding is linked to homelessness

Many of the people we support have had incredibly challenging lives and lacked stability from an early age. Hoarding is often a coping mechanism to help them deal with the trauma they have faced. It gives them a sense of control they have not had before.

Research shows a clear connection between hoarding and homelessness. A study of 78 people in Salvation Army homeless shelters found:

The first study of hoarding and homelessness found that 18.5% of people experiencing homelessness had hoarding symptoms. This suggests that hoarding is three to four times more common for homeless people than the general population.

Hoarding may only show after someone moves into housing, as they now have the space to keep things. But this does not mean the person only then becomes a hoarder. They likely had hoarding symptoms from a young age. These usually start to develop at 13 and result from Adverse Childhood Experiences. Children who face severe adversity are up to 16 times more likely to be homeless later in life. This can partly explain the close connection between homelessness and hoarding.

Hoarding can have severe health and safety risks that can lead to homelessness, including:

1. Fire hazards
2. Poor living conditions
3. Mould growth
4. Infestations

These risks can ultimately leave the person homeless. Landlords can evict tenants if the mess damages the property or breaks the rental agreement. If the person owns the house, the police may get involved because hoarding can impact neighbours and be seen as anti-social behaviour.

If someone is evicted, it will be tough for them to rent again. Future landlords will want a reference from the previous landlord to prove they are a good tenant. This can have a lifelong impact on someone’s housing situation.

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How we support people

We know how invasive and embarrassing it can be for people who hoard to get support. So, we take time to build trust with people, helping to make the process easier for them.

Our specialist hoarding team works with people to understand their reasons for hoarding. With the help of mental health professionals, we use this information to create tailored long-term plans to support them.

In more severe cases, the person we support may have been told by their landlord or council that they need to declutter or risk eviction. Our team supports them through this process by explaining why they need to clear their home and helping to make it a safer and more comfortable space for them.

You can check out our other work to help support Londoners with their mental health here.