Monday, August 18, 2014
Community Hoarding Action Team (CHAT) Goes Public With Training Day For Service Providers And Other Professionals
In years past, very little was known about hoarding. In many cases it was something that took place behind closed doors and out of sight from neighbours, friends, and even family members. Unless it became a crisis or was discovered by chance in an emergency situation, little was done to address the issue or provide help to those involved.
Today, approximately 10% of Canadians are classified as hoarders and, thanks to increased awareness about the problem through a variety of reality-style television programs, far more is understood about the issues and underlying causes of hoarding and, as a result, help is being made available for those who want or need it.
In Renfrew County, the newly-formed Community Hoarding Action Team (CHAT) is going public and hosting a one-day training session to share best-practice interventions and promote local supports. This session is geared to community health and social workers, first responders, landlords, counsellors, and representatives from other community agencies or individuals who may encounter hoarding situations in the context of their work. Presenters will include hoarding specialists from the Mental Health Services of Renfrew County, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, OSPCA, pest control, the legal clinic, building inspection, public health and by-law enforcement.
The training day will be held September 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Ma-Te-Way Activity Centre in Renfrew. The registration cost is $25 and a lunch is included. Seating is limited and registration must be received by September 3rd by calling (613) 623-1632.
“Hoarding is the accumulation of clutter at the expense of function and safety. It has been around for centuries but has recently captured the attention of mainstream society through reality television,” said Lisa Schuler, co-chair of CHAT and Case Manager at the Arnprior Office of Mental Health Services of Renfrew County, a program of the Pembroke Regional Hospital.
Now officially recognized as a mental illness, hoarding strains relationships and can lead to social and emotional isolation. Hoarding also poses health and safety risks from unsanitary conditions, the risk of falls or entrapment to the home occupants or those who need to enter the home and financially, income is often spent or sacrificed on unnecessary acquisitions or storage unit rentals. The costs associated with hoarding are real and multiple, Ms. Schuler said, adding that in Renfrew County, it is conservatively estimated that there could be between 162 and 405 individuals and/or families affected.
As a result, municipalities like those in Renfrew County, are now recognizing the need for a coordinated multi-agency response to hoarding that includes mental health services, the fire department, the police, public health, OSPCA, pest control, municipal by-law enforcement officers and more.
Based on similar efforts in Hastings / Prince Edward County, CHAT was formed last summer, initially as a partnership between the Arnprior Fire Department, Mental Health Services of Renfrew County and Renfrew County Housing Services after responding to a situation in which an individual was at risk of eviction from their home due to hoarding.
While help for that individual was received, it was recognized very quickly by all involved that each agency is limited in terms of what they can offer, and that a more coordinated approach was required. Soon meetings between partner agencies were held, research about other hoarding coalitions was conducted and training was facilitated using funds donated anonymously.
Ultimately, Ms. Schuler said, the idea is to set up CHAT groups in Renfrew, Arnprior, Pembroke and Barry’s Bay, possibly tapping in to provincial funding for such a program as has been done in Hastings / Prince Edward County.
“With an interagency response, agencies work within their mandate yet resources and expertise are pooled together towards one goal,” she said.
“Evidence suggests that understanding hoarding as a mental health issue together with the provision of appropriate timely and coordinated interventions from mental health, fire, safety, housing, children and animal protection agencies will result in a more permanent, efficient and cost-effective intervention,” Ms. Schuler said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator
Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675, ext. 6165 / carolyn.levesque@pemreghos.org
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