Grand Rapids Area Grupo de Trabajo de la Acumulación

The Grand Rapids Area Hoarding Task Force (GRAHT) is a made up of public and private organizations . We work to:

  • Raise public awareness
  • Create safe housing for individuals struggling with hoarding

We improve the quality of life and housing safety through collaboration. We coordinate resources to help people in need.

These great organizations make up the Grand Rapids Area Hoarding Taskforce:

  • Adult Protective Services for the State of Michigan                 
  • Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
  • City of Grand Rapids Attorney's Office               
  • Bethany Christian Services  
  • City of Grand Rapids Code Compliance            
  • Building Bridges Professional Services
  • City of Grand Rapids Fire Department                
  • Grand Valley State University
  • City of Grand Rapids Police Department           
  • Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
  • Kent County Animal Control                    
  • Legal Aid of West Michigan
  • Kent County Health Department             
  • Susie's Organization Solutions LLC                   
  • Western Michigan University

About hoarding

Hoarding is a mental disorder where a person is compulsive about collecting items. The owner values items more than usual. Experts have found hoarding behavior links to mental illnesses like:

  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCD)
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD)
  • Depression

Signs of hoarding

  • Difficult to get around the house
  • Unusual valuing of items
  • Seeing items as a part of one's identity
  • Compulsive and emotional collecting of items

Hazards of hoarding

  • Poor health and living conditions
  • Unorganized stacked items can fall over causing physical harm to the owner and pets
  • Without proper removal of trash and waste ammonia causes health risks
  • A multitude of items has an increased fire hazard
  • Blocked entrances and exits

Measuring hoarding activity

We measure hoarding using the scale from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Find out more about measuring hoarding here.

Grand Rapids Hoarding Problem

2 - 5% of the Grand Rapids population struggles with hoarding. This percentage is increasing. We need early intervention to address the issues before a crisis occurs.

Make us aware of potential hoarders

Sometimes people don't have family or friends to help them. Do you think a neighbor may need help? Reach out to us using the email in the Contact Us section of this page. Include a description of your concerns in your email.

Talking to a Potential Hoarder

We understand it can be hard to know what to say to a person who needs help. Here are some do's and don'ts to talking with potential hoarders.

Do:

  • provide your full attention
  • focus on the individual's good qualities
  • draw out the best in the individual
  • recognize and acknowledge incremental progress

Don't:

  • be judgmental
  • ridicule or criticize the individual
  • exaggerate consequences
  • belittle their feelings           

Make us Aware of Potential Hoarders 

Sometimes people don't have family or friends to help them. If you think a neighbor may need help, reach out to us using the email in the Contact Us section of this page. Include a description of your concerns in your email.