Compulsive hoarding is a mental health disorder characterized by the excessive accumulation
of possessions, often to the point where living spaces become cluttered and unsafe.
Hoarding can pose significant risks to the health and safety of individuals, as well as to their homes and
communities. Materials can pose increased fire risks; precarious stacks of clutter can topple;
and narrow pathways can result in falling or tripping hazards. The disorder can be highly
sensitive to address.
Alliance Environmental Group was called to clean out a two-bedroom, one-bath home after a
municipal code enforcement department and fire department red-tagged it, declaring it unsafe
for occupancy. The client had been hoarding for more than 20 years. The city re-inspected the
same property two years later, and the home was red-tagged again.
The second time, the technicians faced the added challenge of potentially encountering live
snakes in the home. Despite these challenges, the company was able to effectively restore
the home to a safe and livable condition in just eight days through the use of specialized
techniques. Negative air pressure and other engineering measures are used to comply with
state, federal and OSHA regulations. Biohazardous items are efficiently removed, and heat
treatments are conducted for pests, odors, and bacteria.
The crew’s attention to detail and professionalism helped to ensure that the home was safely
and efficiently cleaned and decontaminated. After the cleanup, the city continued to conduct
inspections to ensure that the home remained safe and free from any additional hoardingrelated dangers.
The success of this project highlights the importance of professional intervention in addressing
compulsive hoarding and the vital role that companies like Alliance Environmental play in
ensuring the safety and well-being of affected individuals and their communities. Alliance
Environmental’s crews are alert and thorough, but they’re also courteous and considerate
while cleaning and decontaminating properties in distress from the effects of hoarding.
