Advocacy Strategies to Fight Eviction in Cases of Compulsive Hoarding and Cluttering

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Compulsive hoarding is a behavior associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder and can often threaten the tenancy of a resident in either private or public housing, as landlords frequently find the clutter that results from the behavior to violate lease and safety requirements. Advocates seeking to prevent eviction of such tenants with disabilities should understand the psychological basis for the disorder and how to use the Fair Housing Amendments Act to preserve the tenancy. Successful advocacy should also include working with community and social service organizations to develop solutions to protect the housing of tenants who hoard.

By Tom Cobb, Eric Dunn, Vanessa Tores Hernandez, Jake Moroni Okleberry, Riana Pfefferkorn, and Chelsea Spector From November-December 2007 Clearinghouse Review