Communities that embrace and support their members with inclusive and supportive policies foster resilience and social cohesion, ultimately creating a more equitable and thriving society. Supporting people to live successfully in the community involves a multifaceted approach that not only focuses on immediate relief but prioritizes long-term prevention and support.

Unaddressed hoarding poses a significant risk for housing insecurity and major challenges to avoiding and solving homelessness among people affected by the conditions. A commitment to preventing homelessness and offering robust community support is an investment in the well being and stability of both individuals and the community at large.

The mission of the Massachusetts Hoarding Resource Network is to reduce stigma and strengthen the capacity to deliver effective interventions to people with hoarding conditions across the state.

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Hoarding Resource Network

Building on the work of the MA Statewide Hoarding Taskforce, the MA Hoarding Resource Network (MHRN) leads advocacy, technical assistance, and public education to strengthen hoarding support and expand homelessness prevention for older adults and others in diverse communities across the Commonwealth.

Membership in MHRN is open to all individuals and organizations, including people with lived experience of hoarding and their families; professionals working in housing, aging, behavioral health, human services, public safety, and code enforcement; researchers and academic experts; and other stakeholders.

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Funded by a generous grant by the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds, MAMH supports efforts to build and expand the capacity of MHRN.

Partners

MHRN members include Mutual Support Consulting, MA Councils on Aging (MCOA), Mass Aging Access (formerly Mass Homecare), Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP), Boston University School of Social Work, Elder Protective Services, City Inspectional Services, Tenancy Preservation Program, MassHousing, MA Department of Mental Health, MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and many others.

Helpful Resources

The Consequences of Clutter: How Hoarding Disorder Affects America’s Older Adults, First Responders, and Their Communities details the findings of the Senate Special Committee on Aging investigation into hoarding disorder and its impact on older adults.

The International OCD Foundation serves a broad community of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, their family members and loved ones, and mental health professionals and researchers around the world.

MassHousing works to confront the housing challenges facing the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its people. Find links, organizations, and other resources to help address hoarding here.

Hoarding Disorder in Older Adults is an online course offered by Boston University School of Social Work. The goal of this course is to provide participants with a better understanding of the possible factors that may contribute to hoarding disorder and how it affects an individual’s behavior and ability to function within their home and community.

Contact us

For inquiries about the network, its work or to get involved, please contact Project Director Cassie Cramer.

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Support for MHRN is provided in part by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds.