Help for hoarders

Program steps in to prevent evictions, loss of homes as rate of hoarding increases

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WINNIPEG - Stacks of old food containers piled atop mounds of newspapers, beds that can’t be slept in because they’re covered in debris, and bath tubs filled with canned goods and rotting food.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/08/2010 (5592 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – Stacks of old food containers piled atop mounds of newspapers, beds that can’t be slept in because they’re covered in debris, and bath tubs filled with canned goods and rotting food.

It sounds like a clip from the popular television show Hoarders, but overwhelming clutter is a daily struggle for an increasing number of Winnipeggers.

One local agency that helps seniors on the brink of eviction due to hoarding saw a 30 per cent increase in referrals over the last year. Some experts estimate there could be as many as 14,000 hoarders in the city who have a compelling need to acquire or keep items, regardless of their value.

Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune
A door to the garage in the rear of a home in Chicago, Illinois, in May, where an elderly couple was found buried under mounds of trash in the building.
Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune A door to the garage in the rear of a home in Chicago, Illinois, in May, where an elderly couple was found buried under mounds of trash in the building.

Social workers expect the need will continue to rise as the population ages and more Winnipeggers seek help to rid their homes of excessive items and sometimes, unimaginable mess.

For the full story, see today’s newspaper or our fpNews electronic edition.

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