A reflection from Bruce Whitney, Homeownership Center Director
Lives and homes unfold in many different ways for people. Being a witness and an assistant to these unfoldings can be both challenging and rewarding. With one of our Shared Equity homes we were challenged with witnessing and assisting an owner with a hoarding disorder as they became less and less capable of managing their life and home. We did what we could to bring services to them, but eventually the situation was too unsafe for them and their neighbors and they had to move to a home where they would be safe.
The challenge then became how to do the right thing by the home itself, the neighbors, and the homeowners association. We gathered the resources to purchase the home at a fair price to the owner, cleared out the accumulated items, and fully renovated the home restoring it to its prior condition. It is now a home that can provide comfort and well-being to a new owner and be a positive part of the wonderful Morningside Commons community. A new owner will soon be moving in and we are pleased that we have done everything we can to provide the best potential that her life and home will unfold with love, comfort and joy.
Hoarding disorder is a psychiatric illness in which individuals have difficulty getting rid of items, leading to excessive accumulation and clutter in their living space. For more information about how friends or family members can help and support a loved one who may have hoarding disorder please see this website(https://hoarding.iocdf.org/for-families/).
HOC Before
HOC Before 2
HOC after
