Property management business owners sometimes have to deal with hoarding problems. They may have tenants who pack the property full of stuff and then have to deal with the costly cleanup afterward.

Today, I am talking to Marnie Matthews, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in hoarding and clutter. She is intrigued by the mental health piece of hoarding, which has many factors tied into it. To Marnie, success is when everybody wanting help has easy access to affordable and professional help.

You'll Learn...

[04:36] Types of Hoarding: Hoarding disorder, hoarding behavior, and excessive clutter. [05:10] Hoarding Disorder: Somebody who has extreme difficulty/inability to let things go. [05:33] Hoarding Behavior: People who can address their hoarding after handling mental health issues, such as depression. [06:01] Excessive Clutter: Depending of the level of clutter, someone may have hoarding disorder or just be chronically disorganized. [06:28] Clutter you can clean up quickly and easily; does not impact daily living. [06:48] Those with hoarding disorder believe they can clean up their home, but they are actually unable to do so. [07:05] Brains of people with hoarding disorder work differently; making decisions is difficult, and then frustration and anxiety builds - nothing is accomplished. [07:57] During crisis case management with property managers, Marnie focuses on safety issues. [08:16] Uniform inspection checklist is a tool used to help people pass inspections. [09:28] Remember: Hoarding is a mental health issue; be compassionate, but continue to handle liabilities and responsibilities. [10:04] Harm Reduction Approach: Have a conversation about safety and reducing risk rather than the clutter. [11:26] Anyone with hoarding issues needs to get mental health treatment and support, but resources are limited. [11:56] Typical Response: Property managers don’t know what to say because hoarding situations are overwhelming, but don’t threat tenants or tell them to get rid of everything. [14:30] Tenant may not achieve 100% of what’s required, ask them what happened to identify their habits - don’t try to control them, but inspire them. [15:38] The Clutter Movement provides consultations and trainings for property managers, as well as services and support for tenants and their family members. [18:30] Hoarder’s Mindset: What does it feel like when someone goes through your personal belongings to determine what is and isn’t important? [21:00] Things people are holding onto are about their identity; it may look like trash to the rest of us, but those things mean something to the hoarder. [23:45] Marnie asks two questions: If you woke up tomorrow and your home was as you wanted it to be, what would your life be like? What is something you want to do that you are not doing or can’t do now because of the clutter? [26:09] People are reward-motivated; don’t focus on the problem, but something that will move them forward. [27:58] Addiction aspect of hoarding could be due to a lack of connection; hoarding is not an addiction, but associated thoughts/behaviors need to be treated like an addiction. [31:00] Difference between hoarding and squalor; hoarding regards possessions, while squalor focuses on unsanitary environmental conditions.

Tweetables

Hoarding is a chronic, progressive disorder. It only gets worse when triggered.

During crisis case management with property managers, focus on safety issues.

Property managers don’t know what to do; hoarding situations are overwhelming.

Resources

The Clutter Movement

Marnie Matthews’ Email

The Clutter Movement Individual Support Facebook Group

The Clutter Movement Family Support Facebook Group

Hoarding Task Force Network

Uniform Inspection Checklist

Minimalism on Netflix

TED Talk: Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong

DoorGrowClub Facebook Group