Hoarding Disorder Foundation of Alberta
Welcome to HDFA. We're glad you're here.
Chances are that if you have landed here you have somehow been touched by hoarding behaviours.
Our Purpose
HDFA provides compassionate, informed, collaborative supports and services for people who struggle with hoarding behaviours and their loved ones.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be the first stop for those in Alberta affected by Hoarding Behaviours to find education, resources and support.
Our Mission
To provide a trauma-sensitive response for people living with Hoarding Disorder through support groups and case management, by collaborating with relevant partners and services to establish safe spaces that support wellness.
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.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that HDFA is currently and primarily located on Treaty 6 Territory, a traditional gathering place for diverse indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Metis, Nokota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant community. We respect the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of First Nations, Metis and Inuit nations.
