Hoarding Resource List

Contents:

Are you or a loved one struggling with hoarding?

The Multnomah County Hoarding Task Force has compiled a list of resources and includes Support and Counseling Options, Cleanup Help, Safety Issues, Legal Assistance, Suggested Reading and Websites, Downsizing, and Other Resources.

Support and Counseling Options

  • Buried in Treasures Workshop
  • Clutterers Anonymous: (503) 674-8893. Free groups open for people wishing to share their experience with clutter.
  • Lutheran Community Services Northwest: (503) 731-9589. Multicultural Counseling Services- mental health and addiction services for adults and children.
  • NW Anxiety Institute: (503) 542-7635. Individual and peer support groups.
  • Pacific Psychology and Comprehensive Clinics: (503) 352-2400. Low-cost options for individual and group therapy.

Cleanup Help

Safety Issues

  • Multnomah County Adult Protective Services: (503) 988-4450. Investigates allegations of abuse, self-neglect, and financial exploitation for seniors and adults with disabilities. 
  • City of Gresham Code Compliance: 503-618-2463. Assists property owners in resolving compliance issues in Gresham such as land use, general nuisances, parking, junk and garbage, vegetation, abandoned vehicles, animals, etc.
  • City of Portland Neighborhood Inspections Program. To report a violation contact (503) 823-CODE (2633) between the hours of 8-5, Mon-Fri.
  • City of Troutdale Code Compliance. 503-665-6129 Ext. 2241
  • Multnomah County Animal Services: 503-988-7387. Performs animal abuse and neglect investigations, and responds to situations where an animal is in imminent danger or there is a loose aggressive dog. 
  • Multnomah County Vector Control: 503-988-3464. Vector Control protects health and enhances livability through control of the rat and mosquito populations, and serves as a resource for addressing public health vector problems. Programs include Rodent Control, Mosquito Control and Code Enforcement, which enforces some specific county and city municipal codes.

Legal Assistance

  • Legal Aid Services of Oregon: (503) 224-4086. Provides access to free legal help for housing cases including eviction defense, repair issues, discrimination, and help with government housing programs. 
  • The Fair Housing Council: (503) 223-8197. Statewide civil rights organization whose mission is to eliminate housing discrimination through access to enforcement and education. 

Suggested Reading and Websites

  • Hoarding Toolkit for Housing Advocates
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding by David Tolin, Randy Frost, and Gail Steketee
  • Children of Hoarders
  • Digging Out: Helping Your Loved Ones Manage Clutter, Hoarding, & Compulsive Acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins and Tamara L. Harti
  • International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation hoarding.iocdf.org
  • Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Gail Steketee and Randy Frost
  • The Hoarding Handbook: A Guide for Human Service Professionals by Christiana Bratiotis

Downsizing

Here are some ways you can pass your things on and simplify your life in the process. Download this PDF for details, hours, and contact information.

  • *Habitat for Humanity ReStore – an arm of Habitat for Humanity where you can donate or shop for new and gently used furniture, lighting fixtures, doors, windows, etc.  Proceeds help Habitat to build affordable housing.
  • *ReBuilding Center – A climate justice nonprofit.  They sell donated, reclaimed, and salvaged material for home projects and also offer classes to develop skills in building projects.
  • *Community Warehouse – A 20+ year old nonprofit furniture bank that collects safe, clean, ready-to-use furniture, home décor, art, books, small appliances, linens, etc.  There are requirements for some donations.  Some donations are given to refugees who are new to Portland.
  • *Tool Library – This nonprofit works like a library but has tools instead of books.  They have tools for home repair and gardening. 
  • *Buy Nothing Project -- Founded in 2013, this nonprofit’s mission is to build community by connecting people through local gifting, sharing, and lending while reducing one’s footprint on the planet.
  • *Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – This is a worldwide sharing movement whose mission is to reduce waste, save resources, and ease amounts going to landfills.  They have practical hints on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.  
  • *Resourceful PDX – This is a resource that grew out of a 2006 effort to reduce waste in Portland below 2005 levels by 2015.  It was furthered by the 2007 Portland Recycle Plan and the 2015 Climate Action Plan.  This site gives you tools, ideas, and resources for reducing waste.  
  • *Metro–Recycle – Metro is a region-wide planning and coordination council that manages growth, infrastructure, and development issues in Oregon.  Metro Recycling works with DEQ on solid waste systems, looks for a variety of local and overseas processors and for new markets for their recyclables.
  • *James Recycling – This is a local recycling program run by James, a 24- year- old who has Aspergers.  With a passion for protecting the environment, James wants to make recycling easier by recycling items that are not accepted elsewhere.  

Other Resources

  • Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): (503) 988-3646, or 1-800-ORE-ADRC (673-2372). Provides information about services to address aging or disability needs.
  • Institute for Challenging Disorganization: Providing education, research, and strategies to benefit people challenged by chronic disorganization. 
  • Mental Health Call Center: (503) 988-4888 or toll-free 1(800) 716-9769. 24-hour call line providing crisis counseling (translation services available). 24/7 mobile crisis outreach for in-person assessment, referral to low-cost or sliding scale agencies, help finding mental health providers.
  • National Association of Professional Organizers
  • If you have the Oregon Health Plan, please contact your care provider to find out what additional resources may be available.

This list is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a recommendation of agencies or resources.

For information about this resource list please get in touch with hoarding@multco.us


← Previous Why and how to address hoarding