📰 Hoarding News Roundup – June 28, 2025
By Helping Hands for Hoarders
🔥 The Hoarding Crisis Intensifies in Geelong, Australia
In the regional city of Geelong, Victoria, a growing hoarding crisis has become too large to ignore. Greg Dale, the founder of extreme cleaning service WorkOK, has sounded the alarm on a wave of cases that push his team to the brink. They are increasingly finding properties filled with biohazards: decaying animals, used syringes, mold, faeces, and even asbestos — making each cleanup not just labor-intensive, but dangerous.
In one particularly severe case in Batesford, Dale’s team was called in to remediate a home that posed an immediate threat to public health. The cleanup process required hazmat suits and extensive waste disposal protocols. “We’re not just dealing with stuff,” Dale shared. “We’re dealing with trauma, neglect, mental illness, and years of buildup that most people can’t even imagine.”
Local councils such as Bannockburn and Corio are aware of the problem, but budget limitations often prevent timely action. Many homes remain in limbo, with neighbors complaining and families overwhelmed. Dale stresses that unless ongoing mental health support is provided alongside physical cleanup, the problem will keep returning.
🧠 Hoarders Face Isolation and Misunderstanding
A new report highlights how individuals with hoarding disorder often experience intense stigma, both from society and within their own communities. These individuals frequently perceive their surroundings as more chaotic or hostile — not necessarily because of the actual environment, but due to the psychological impact of living with hoarding behaviors.
Social judgment, eviction threats, and family breakdowns are common consequences. This stigma can discourage people from seeking help, worsening the condition over time. Researchers argue that stigma reduction and public education are essential steps toward creating a more compassionate approach.
📆 National Hoarding Awareness Week 2025 Spotlights Executive Functioning
This year’s National Hoarding Awareness Week in the UK (May 12–16) turned the spotlight on the link between hoarding disorder and executive functioning — a set of mental skills that help people manage tasks, plan, and regulate emotions.
Experts say deficits in executive functioning can cause significant difficulty discarding items, making decisions, and managing clutter. When the brain’s ability to prioritize and organize breaks down, even simple tasks like throwing away a receipt or sorting mail can feel overwhelming.
Community organizations such as Nehemiah Housing and NDH ran workshops and support groups aimed at reducing shame and equipping families and caregivers with tools to help loved ones cope.
🏛️ UK Experts Urge National Response to Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder continues to impact an estimated 4 million people across the UK, and experts are urging the government to take action. Advocacy groups including the UK Hoarding Partnership are calling for standardized guidelines, more training for support workers, and increased access to mental health services.
They stress that hoarding is not a lifestyle choice, but a serious and often trauma-rooted mental health condition. Without a coordinated national strategy, thousands will continue to suffer in silence. Landlords, housing services, and local councils are often unequipped to deal with severe cases — and interventions sometimes arrive too late.
The call to action is clear: early intervention, education, and compassion-driven support must become the new standard.
🧪 Brain Study Reveals Markers of Progress in Hoarding Therapy
Groundbreaking new research has shown that individuals undergoing treatment for hoarding disorder may experience measurable changes in brain function. A recent study published by neuropsychologists found that certain areas of the brain showed improved connectivity as participants made progress in therapy.
The study suggests that hoarding disorder is not only behavioral but has a neurological footprint. This discovery could pave the way for more targeted treatment methods and brain-based diagnostic tools.
In practical terms, this means that therapy isn’t just improving behavior — it’s literally reshaping how the brain works, offering renewed hope to sufferers and clinicians alike.
📱 The Rise of Digital Hoarding
As our lives move increasingly online, a new form of clutter is emerging — digital hoarding. This refers to the compulsive collection and retention of digital files, whether it’s thousands of unread emails, decades of photos, duplicate downloads, or entire folders of unsorted documents.
What may seem like harmless file accumulation can lead to significant stress, decision paralysis, and even mirror the same emotional distress seen in physical hoarding. Experts note that digital hoarding often stems from fear of loss (“I might need this someday”) or an inability to prioritize what is truly important.
In today’s data-rich world, unlimited cloud storage has made digital hoarding easier than ever. Unfortunately, it also makes digital environments just as mentally taxing as physically cluttered ones. Organizing digital spaces — like inboxes, desktop folders, and cloud storage — is now being recommended as part of broader mental wellness practices.
🧭 Final Thoughts: Tackling Hoarding with Insight and Empathy
From extreme cleanups in Geelong to promising brain studies and increasing public awareness, the conversation around hoarding disorder is evolving rapidly. What’s clear is that hoarding is more than “just mess” — it’s a deeply rooted mental health condition that demands nuanced understanding, consistent support, and community-based solutions.
As a society, we must move beyond judgment and toward compassion. Whether physical or digital, clutter can be both a symptom and a cause of emotional suffering. By keeping up with the latest research and listening to those with lived experience, we can continue creating better pathways to healing.
Helping Hands for Hoarders is committed to staying at the forefront of hoarding support. We provide not only cleaning and clearance services but also ongoing care, digital tools, and a supportive online community for those navigating this journey.
👉 If you or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, reach out to us today — compassionate help is just one click away.