About HDFA
The Hoarding Disorder Foundation of Alberta was founded in 2019 by a group of individuals who saw a need for support services for those who struggle with or are affected by hoarding behaviours. We have ambitious goals but, as a fledgling organization, we recognize the need to grow slowly and to secure funding for programming. In April, 2020 right in the midst of Covid we received charitable status which allows us to apply for funding as well as provide charitable tax receipts for personal and corporate donations.
We envision a future where HDFA will be of benefit individuals, families and the broader Alberta community. At this time HDFA's capacity is limited to the greater Edmonton area.
Individuals with Hoarding Disorder
People with extreme clutter issues carry a huge burden. The stigma surrounding Hoarding Disorder (HD) is so intense that many people fear the consequences of reaching out for support. For many people with HD (whether diagnosed or not) past interventions have been extremely harmful often leading to damaged personal and community relationships, isolation, eviction and homelessness. HDFA will provide evidence based service opportunities in a safe and supportive environment in order to encourage individuals with hoarding issues to reach out for help.
Family and Friends
HDFA will also provide a safe and supportive environment for family, friends, neighbours and others (volunteers for example) to learn about hoarding disorder as well as to learn about effective intervention strategies. Family and friends are often very concerned about their loved one who struggles with hoarding and have often made numerous attempts to intervene without success. By accessing HDFA, family and friends and others will have the opportunity to support real and sustainable results.
Community
There is a growing concern regarding the impact of hoarding behaviours on the community. Service providers in Edmonton struggle to find appropriate and comprehensive services for people who hoard. The Edmonton Hoarding Coalition (which is comprised of a variety of interested parties including Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE), Environmental Public Health, City of Edmonton Fire, Emergency Response & By-law, Community Geriatric Psychiatry, independent service providers and many others) engaged in two data collection projects in order to better understand incidents of hoarding in our community. The projects identified a high rate of social service access as well as safety and health risks for both the public as well as for the individual who struggles with hoarding. HDFA will work collaboratively with the Edmonton Hoarding Coalition to fill identified gaps in services in order to address identified concerns and strengthen an integrated community response to cases of hoarding.
Other Stakeholders
Hoarding Disorder is a pervasive disorder impacting family, friends and the wider community. Landlords, condo boards, housing co-ops, public housing agencies etc. encounter a myriad of challenges that can include:
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Long-term tenant issues, like being denied entry for routine maintenance
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Evictions
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Legal costs
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Bed bug, cockroach or other pest treatment challenges
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Remediation and renovation
HDFA will provide education and problem solving support so that these stakeholders have tools to deal with this challenging issue.