Early intervention is critical to help hoarders before the problem takes over their lives, Catholic Community Services manager Margaret Kime said.
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“Hoarding is more prevalent today in younger people than it used to be,” she said.
“We have people disengaging from society because of their hoarding and squalor habits.
“So early intervention to help them is critical.
“Many people today are living dysfunctional lives, families lacking basic living skills needed for shopping or cooking.
“We have seen cases where people have hoarded themselves out of their houses – living under their house or in their cars.
“Some may not have allowed anyone – including their families – into their homes for years.
“Often hoarding and squalor can be a result of many personal traumatic circumstances, a lack of mental health or physical wellbeing.
“Our program assists clients to unhoard, sanitise and make safe their homes as they work on strategies to improve their lives.”