WHEREAS compulsive hoarding is a psychological condition which is estimated to occur in about 5 of the population and is associated with fire, health and safety hazards which pose an extreme risk to the hoarder but also to first responders and others living in close proximity to the hoarding unit; AND WHEREAS local government, through fire protection, licensing andor standards of maintenance bylaws, must inspect hoarding units and issue orders to address any fire, health and safety hazards; AND WHEREAS local government staff do not have the mandate or skill set to deal with the psychological condition of hoarding and often observe deteriorating conditions between inspections; AND WHEREAS the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health have established a Hoarding Action Response Team, in which mental health workers are assigned to work hands-on with hoarders to reduce fire, health and safety hazards and to do follow-up maintenance: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the health authorities work with local government to address the increasing prevalence of hoarding by allocating appropriate resources and staff and by providing care and support to hoarders to enable them to manage and reduce risks associated with their psychological condition.
Ministry of Health Hoarding is a behavior characterized by excessive acquisition and the inability to discard or part with possessions, regardless of their actual value. For some people, their living spaces become so cluttered that the risk of fire, health problems such as mold and pests, and structural problems become a major concern. Hoarding is not only a risk to the residents home, but also to their neighbours, and to first responders such as firefighters. People with hoarding conditions are often distressed, their ability to function is usually affected, and they have varying levels of insight into their problems. About 75 percent of those with a hoarding disorder also have a mood andor anxiety disorder. However, not everyone who is collecting excessively is considered to have a hoarding disorder. As indicated in Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in BC, the Province is working to incrementally improve mental health and substance use services across the province. The plan calls for integrated evidence-based primary and community care for people with severe and complex mental disorders andor substance dependence. In April 2012, Vancouver became the first city in North America to launch a formal integrated approach to help people diagnosed with a hoarding disorder through the development of a Hoarding Action Response Team HART program. The program consists of a city property use inspector, a fire inspector and two mental health workers employed by Vancouver Coastal Health. The HART team is a pilot project, the effectiveness of which is being evaluated by UBC. The study is expected to be completed by June 2014, and will inform municipalities and health authorities regarding ways to support citizens with a hoarding disorder. Meanwhile, people with serious mental disorders receive treatment through the health authorities mental health and substance use services. Given the potential benefits of this collaborative approach to support British Columbians with a hoarding disorder to maintain their housing in a safe manner and improve their quality of life, the Province supports collaboration between local governments and health authorities to plan and provide appropriate effective and efficient services for this client population based on local demands and available resources.
Vancouver Coastal Health I want to thank UBCM for highlighting Vancouver Coastal Healths VCH Hoarding Action Response Team HART within Resolution B84 as an example that others may choose to follow. We know that compulsive hoarding poses significant health and safety risks for individuals, families, and communities. HART, a partnership between VCH and the City of Vancouver, provides a coordinated response to those impacted by hoarding. Any decision to establish similar programs in other municipalities will be a matter for discussion between health, local government, and other agencies based on need, resources and other factors. Interior Health In consultation with the Ministry of Health we were advised that the Provincial Government has already responded to this resolution. Where resolutions impact health authority operations the Ministry has included relevant language within their response.