Hoarders -- people who hold on to more than they need or even value -- are seen getting help on TV shows. A crew swoops in and sweeps out the excess stuff and debris. Problem solved? No.



Experts understand that hoarding is a complex disorder, triggered by a traumatic experience or loss, that requires compassion to keep the compulsion at bay.

The disorder can affect relationships, finances and employment.

Hoarders are often embarrassed to invite family and friends over and they postpone scheduling critical health care visits and maintenance work in fear of having someone see the chaotic condition of their house, according to Clutterers Anonymous World Service Organization. (Read more Am I a Clutterer?)

Keeping drapes drawn so no one can look inside adds to a feeling of isolation. Piles of belongings cause distress rather than pleasure, and create a risk of falling, fire and infestation. Narrow pathways and possible floor-to-ceiling containers render the property or room nonfunctional and dangerous.

Neighborhoods are also impacted.



Here's a common concern: A reader emailed The Oregonian/OregonLive after seeing the series Can my neighbor do that? She included a photo showing full trash cans and garbage bags taking up a third of the driveway.

"I walk by this house all the time and thankful it is not on my street. Can't believe all the stuff this lady drives around and picks up from the curb. Surprised it isn't a health hazard or attract vermin."



She says junk and recyclable materials are creeping into the front lawn. She wonders: Is there a law against hoarding?

Portland, Beaverton, Gresham, Troutdale and other cities have property maintenance codes and if violated, a code officer will send a letter to the people responsible, giving them a period of time to clean up their property. If they don't, the officer will start fining them a certain amount every day.



If the problem persists, violators could be forced to go to court and a judge could order them to remove materials that impact public safety, sanitation and neighborhood livability. The process could end with the house being evacuated.



In Portland, members of the Neighborhood Inspections program at the Bureau of Development Services enforce Title 29, which covers the maintenance of homes, accessory structures and property. If prompted by a complaint, an inspector will visit and offer residents referrals to help resolve the situation.

Multnomah County's human services department has a hoarding resource list that includes support and counseling options as well as cleanup and legal assistance.

One of the resources is the Pacific Psychology and Comprehensive Health Clinic in downtown Portland, which offers group treatment and individual cognitive-behavioral therapy treatment for hoarding behaviors.

Irina Gelman, a licensed psychologist and director of the clinic, says the services are covered by Health Share of Oregon and discounts are offered based on income.

The county also refers people to Clutterers Anonymous, which has two free meetings in Southeast Portland as well as in Beaverton and Vancouver, Washington. Meetings over the phone can be arranged by calling 866-402-6685.

People with a clutter disorder are not lazy but may overthink everything, says one man who attends Clutterers Anonymous meetings.



"'Hoarder' is a dirty word," says the man who asked not to be identified. "That's too bad because it's a disease. Like alcoholism, it's life and death, not a joke. We are powerless over our stuff."



He says he wishes he could get help from people who aren't there to judge or add more pressure, but work with him. "This is not a 'Hints from Heloise' situation," he says.



"Your time is consumed by your stuff," says the man, who recommends reading books like "Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding (Treatments That Work)" and "Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things" to understand the condition.

The disorder can start in childhood, with a suspected genetic link, and it can be triggered by the death of a loved one, break up of a relationship or another traumatic event. An emotional attachment to objects overrides the rational behavior to discard things that other people find worthless.

"It would surprise people to know that some of us are very green people," says the man. "We save everything to recycle, we just don't make it to the recycler."

To people with a hoarding disorder, cleaning and the follow through to remove unwanted items might feel like insurmountable chores.

When some people feel ready to change their home, they may call bonded, insured cleanup companies to work with them to remove clutter and unearth valuable and sentimental items.

"It's sensitive, sometimes we're the first ones in the home in a long time," says Chris Gage, who with his wife Shelly, owns Steri-Clean in Tigard. "It's about trust. We listen and work toward the goal of restoring the functionality of the space."

Unlike hoarding shows, there should be no arguing over items, says Gage, but working with the owner to donate or dispose of unwanted objects. "We explain that something new, still in boxes, taking up space and buried under five feet of other stuff could help something else," he says.

The owner decides which group will receive the donated, usable items.

Unless the underlining causes are also addressed, however, the hoarding will continue, say experts.



A mediator could help someone approach a neighbor who has hoarding issues, but generally city mediation centers don't get involved in situations that require medical attention.

In other cases, neighbors with a dispute who enter mediation decide for themselves what course of action they want to take. Most of the time, people report being more satisfied when they collaborate in solving their issues, says Tsipora Dimant, who works at Beaverton's Dispute Resolution Center, a free and confidential service of the Mayor's Office for residents of Beaverton and Washington County east of 185th Avenue.

What's on your mind? You can get free mediation and facilitation services to help find solutions to conflict at the Resolutions Northwest in Portland (503-595-4890; resolutionsnorthwest.org) or Beaverton's Dispute Resolution Center (503-526-2523; beavertonoregon.gov/562/Dispute-Resolution).

The contributors of Can My Neighbor Do That? have received hundreds of questions from readers that we will answer over time.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com