Most people know of someone that pack their home with unnecessary stuff. Researchers are now just starting to understand this condition called hoarding.

Most scientists agree that hoarding as a disorder is defined by:

1. Excessive acquisition of stuff that have little or no value.

2. Extreme difficulty throwing anything out.

3. The inability to organize stuff in their living spaces which makes it impossible to live in the house.

An estimated 5% of Americans and Canadians suffer from this disorder and it effects people from all walks of life. In fact Andy Warhol was a hoarder. His New York Upper East Side town house was so jammed that only the kitchen and bedroom was accessible by a path.

Here in Toronto, Fire Services, Public Health and Municipal Licensing & Standards are making a concerted effort to work together to deal with these issues. There is still much more work to do but all of these agencies are recognizing that this issue requires a coordinated effort.

We have seen many hoarding situations over the years here at Junk It!. It requires patience and sensitivity while the removal is occurring. Our crews are very understanding of the problem.  We work with relatives and government agencies to ensure that the removal is done correctly. Please let us know if you need help with a hoarding situation. We can make recommendations and coordinate the effort.