Guelph’s local hoarding initiative will host a series of workshops for families and loved ones of people with hoarding in September.
Hoarding affects how people think about their possessions, meaning that the urge to collect and save items is difficult to overcome. It also means that the solution isn’t as easy as just throwing away items.
It can be difficult for family to understand why items pile up in their loved one’s home. The issue can cause conflict and breakdowns in family relationships.
“Family members really struggle with how to live with and support someone who collects and saves a lot of items. They get frustrated and relationships can break down,” said Wellington Guelph Hoarding Response coordinator Emily Gibson. “The workshops will give families some tools to work through their conflicts.”
The workshops will cover a basic understanding of what hoarding is, how to weigh the risks that can happen, communication strategies, a framework for working together with loved ones who hoard, as well as presentations from and question and answer sessions with Guelph Fire Prevention, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Hoarding has an emotional component and sometimes can be affected by mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
This is more common than most realize, affecting between 2 to 5 per cent of the population. It is characterized by the person feeling upset when they get rid of items, causing them to save possessions to the point that rooms or areas of their home can no longer be used for their intended purpose.
Many people who struggle with the issue are not bothered by the clutter in their homes, causing family members to disconnect. Isolation is sometimes an issue, and family can be an important source of support.
The Wellington Guelph Hoarding Response promotes a harm reduction approach.
“We want people to live safely and comfortably in their homes,” said Yvonne Bowes, co-chair of the Hoarding Response. “We don’t advocate that people do major clean-outs the way they do on reality TV shows. As long as they’re safe, and their neighbours and communities are safe, we have to respect people’s choices in how they live.”
Workshops are free and will take place at the Guelph Community Health Centre over the course of three evenings: Sept. 15, Sept. 22, and Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 8pm.
For more information or to register call Emily Gibson at 519-836-2332 ext. 108 or email egibson@dunara.com.
The Hoarding Response has plans to hold similar a workshop in Mount Forest later in the fall in partnership with the H.O.P.E. Committee and CMHA.
