A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide

Hoarding support in Abingdon, Virginia.

Start with a respectful next step in Abingdon or elsewhere in Washington County. This guide connects people, families, supporters, and local systems with practical pathways while keeping emergencies and clinical care in the right lane.

People first.Then the stuff.A Fight the Blight initiative

Start here - Fight the Blight

A calm place to begin

You do not have to solve everything at once. Start with the pathway that fits the situation, then confirm current availability, eligibility, cost, jurisdiction, and safety requirements directly with the organization.

For immediate danger

If there is immediate danger, fire, a medical emergency, violence, or an active threat, call 911. For emotional or behavioral-health crisis support, call or text 988 or use Virginia's local crisis and community-services pathways.

First conversations

A few good places to start

You do not need to know the perfect service name before reaching out. These organizations can help you understand the landscape and identify a next step.

Private-pay hoarding support, organizing help, groups, and family guidance - Broader service area, including possible support for Washington County; Private-pay scope, cost, scheduling, travel, consent, safety, and capacity must be confirmed directly; Not emergency or clinical care

The Peer Tree

The Peer Tree is the private-pay pathway for organizing help, decluttering support, groups, family guidance, and practical next steps when a grant or public program is not the right fit. Ask about scope, cost, travel, consent, safety, and whether support is available in Washington County.

Digital peer-support pathway - Online for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns and their supporters; Current access and eligibility should be confirmed; no fee or clinical-coverage claim is made here; Not therapy, crisis response, or emergency support

Unburied

Unburied, from The Peer Tree, offers a judgment-free digital pathway with peer support, groups, and tools for people directly affected and for friends, family, property managers, municipal workers, and other supporters.

Free, confidential resource navigation for housing, food, health care, utilities, transportation, legal help, and basic needs - Virginia, including Washington County; 24/7 service; each referred provider has its own eligibility, cost, and availability rules; Not emergency dispatch

211 Virginia

211 Virginia connects people with current local resources for housing, food, health care, utilities, transportation, mental health, and other needs. Ask for options serving Abingdon and Washington County.

Local nonprofit hospital and qualified-care pathway - 351 Courtland Street NE, Abingdon; hospital, emergency, insurance, billing, financial-assistance, and capacity rules must be confirmed directly; Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency; Not cleanup or hoarding support

Johnston Memorial Hospital

Johnston Memorial Hospital provides a local qualified-care pathway in Abingdon. Confirm current hospital, outpatient, emergency, behavioral-health, financial-assistance, and transfer information directly rather than assuming a particular service is available.

Safety and stability

When the concern involves safety, housing, or crisis

These pathways serve different situations. Read the labels carefully before calling, especially when a response may involve crisis care, protective services, shelter, housing rules, legal advocacy, or emergency dispatch.

Immediate danger and emergency dispatch - Abingdon and Washington County; Use for fire, medical emergency, violence, rescue, or an active threat; Not a hoarding-support program, counseling service, or cleanup provider

911 Emergency Services

Call 911 when there is immediate danger, fire, a medical emergency, violence, or a threat that cannot wait for a scheduled service.

Emotional-distress and suicide-crisis support - Virginia and nationwide; phone, text, and chat access; Free and confidential; crisis-support eligibility and local follow-up vary; Not fire, EMS, or police dispatch; call 911 for immediate physical danger

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 for emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a behavioral-health crisis. If there is immediate physical danger, fire, a medical emergency, or an active threat, call 911 instead.

County emergency-management, E-911 coordination, disaster-planning, hazardous-materials, and fire/EMS coordination - Washington County; 1 Government Center Place, Abingdon; 276-525-1330; call 911 for an active emergency; Not routine cleanup or counseling

Washington County Emergency Management

Washington County Emergency Management coordinates emergency services, maintains county emergency plans, and serves as a point of contact for the enhanced 911 system. Use 911 for an active emergency and this office for preparedness questions that can wait.

County law-enforcement and public-safety pathway - Washington County outside or alongside municipal jurisdiction; 276-676-6000; call 911 for immediate danger; jurisdiction and report rules apply; Not counseling or cleanup

Washington County Sheriff's Office

Use the Washington County Sheriff's Office for county law-enforcement and public-safety questions that are not an active emergency. Confirm the correct jurisdiction before relying on a non-emergency response.

Municipal law-enforcement and public-safety pathway - 425 West Main Street, Abingdon; 276-628-3111; call 911 for immediate danger; town jurisdiction and report rules apply; Not counseling or cleanup

Abingdon Police Department

Abingdon Police provides the town law-enforcement pathway for reports, welfare concerns, and public-safety questions that can wait. Call 911 for an active emergency.

Municipal fire prevention, response, and rescue pathway - Abingdon and portions of Washington County; 316 Park Street; call 911 for fire or rescue; permit and jurisdiction rules apply; Not cleanup or clinical care

Abingdon Fire Department

Abingdon Fire Department provides the local fire-prevention and response pathway. Call 911 for fire, rescue, or a medical emergency; use the department or town government for prevention questions that can wait.

Volunteer rescue and emergency-medical pathway - Washington County and surrounding communities; 241 Park Street, Abingdon; response, billing, and coverage rules apply; Call 911 for an emergency; Not routine transportation

Washington County Life Saving Crew

Washington County's emergency-services materials identify the Washington County Life Saving Crew as a local rescue and EMS partner. Call 911 for an emergency rather than trying to arrange a routine ride through a rescue service.

Local hospital emergency and acute-care pathway - 351 Courtland Street NE, Abingdon; emergency access, insurance, triage, transfer, and capacity rules apply; Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies; Not cleanup or hoarding support

Johnston Memorial Hospital Emergency Care

Johnston Memorial Hospital is the local hospital pathway for urgent medical questions and emergency care. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency rather than driving if symptoms or conditions may be urgent.

Official public-health, immunization, WIC, screening, behavioral-health, and environmental-health pathway - 15068 Lee Highway, Bristol; 276-676-5604; programs, appointments, fees, and eligibility vary; Not emergency care

Washington County Health Department

Washington County Health Department lists public-health, WIC, screening, behavioral-health, and environmental-health pathways for the county. Confirm current clinic programs, appointment needs, documents, and fees directly.

Community-services-board pathway for mental health, substance use, developmental services, crisis services, and family supports - Washington County and Bristol area; Main 276-525-1550 and 24/7 crisis support 1-800-500-7019; intake, insurance, and capacity rules vary; Not emergency dispatch

Highlands Community Services

Highlands Community Services is the community-services-board pathway serving Washington County and Bristol. Ask about current crisis, outpatient, psychiatric, recovery, developmental, family, and case-management options.

Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult or adult with a disability - Virginia, including Washington County; statewide intake and assessment; Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger; APS does not guarantee cleanup or housing

Virginia Adult Protective Services

Virginia Adult Protective Services receives reports involving older adults and adults with disabilities who may be abused, neglected, or exploited. Use the state route for a concern that needs protective-services review.

Report suspected child abuse or neglect - Virginia, including Washington County; statewide intake and assessment; Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger; CPS is not emergency dispatch

Virginia Child Protective Services

Use Virginia's child-protective-services route when there is a concern about child abuse or neglect. This is a reporting and assessment pathway, not a cleanup or housing service.

Confidential domestic-violence and sexual-assault crisis, safety-planning, shelter, and advocacy navigation - Virginia, including Washington County; hotline and local-service capacity rules vary; Call 911 for immediate danger

Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline

Virginia's statewide hotline can help survivors and supporters identify safety-planning, advocacy, and shelter options. Ask about current services serving Abingdon and Washington County.

Poison and exposure information - Virginia, including Washington County; 24/7 poison-information call; Call 911 for collapse or an immediate life threat; Not cleanup or environmental-remediation service

Virginia Poison Center

Call the Virginia Poison Center for urgent guidance after a suspected poisoning or exposure. Poison-center advice is not cleanup or environmental-remediation service.

Utility-locate request before digging or ground disturbance - Virginia, including Washington County; request timing and utility-owner rules apply; Not emergency response; call 911 for an active utility emergency

Virginia 811

Virginia 811 helps identify underground utility lines before digging. Submit a locate request in advance of ground disturbance or property work.

State emergency-preparedness, disaster-information, and local-agency coordination pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; local response rules vary; call 911 for immediate danger; Not routine cleanup or housing placement

Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Virginia Emergency Management provides preparedness and disaster-information resources that can help residents and supporters plan around severe weather, evacuation, and recovery. Use 911 for an active emergency.

County building-permit, inspection, development, zoning, and property-safety information pathway - Washington County; 276-525-1320; permit, inspection, code, and jurisdiction rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or cleanup funding

Washington County Building and Development

Washington County's Building and Development office provides the current route for permits, inspections, and property-development questions. Confirm county or town jurisdiction before starting work.

County disposal, convenience-station, transfer-station, and household-waste information pathway - Washington County; 276-623-1044; resident decal, accepted-material, hours, service-area, and fee rules apply; Not emergency response or private cleanup

Washington County Solid Waste

Washington County Solid Waste operates convenience stations and a transfer station for county residents. Confirm current accepted materials, hours, decals, fees, loading rules, and whether a specific property or material is eligible before traveling.

State health and referral information for emergency and specialty care - Virginia, including Washington County; hospital triage, transfer, insurance, and capacity rules apply; Call 911 for an emergency; Not hoarding support

Virginia Department of Health Emergency and Specialty-Care Information

Use Virginia's health information systems or local hospital for urgent medical questions, and confirm whether a local or regional center is appropriate rather than assuming a particular specialty is available.

People and practical help

Housing, food, care, transportation, and ongoing support

These listings connect the local community with housing, food, behavioral health, benefits, transit, survivor advocacy, disability support, peer support, and practical resources. Ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.

Official benefits, Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, child-protection, adult services, and social-services pathway - Washington County; Abingdon-area office and local intake rules apply; eligibility, documents, and processing rules vary; Not emergency dispatch

Washington County Department of Social Services

Use Washington County Social Services and Virginia's benefits portals to apply for or manage public benefits and social services. Confirm current office location, hours, documents, identity verification, and eligibility directly.

Official application and case-management pathway for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, energy help, child care, and other benefits - Virginia, including Washington County; income, household, identity, and program rules apply; Not emergency dispatch

Virginia CommonHelp

CommonHelp is Virginia's online benefits portal. Confirm current application, renewal, document, identity-verification, and program rules directly through the official portal.

Public and income-based housing pathway - 190 East Main Street, Abingdon; 276-628-5661; waitlist, screening, rent, unit, accessibility, and eligibility rules vary; Not emergency shelter or guaranteed placement

Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority provides a local affordable-housing route. Confirm current waitlist status, public-housing and voucher options, screening, accessibility, and availability directly.

Free, confidential navigation for housing, food, utilities, health care, transportation, and legal help - Virginia, including Washington County; 24/7; referred providers set their own eligibility, cost, and availability; Not emergency dispatch

211 Virginia Housing and Basic-Needs Navigation

Use 211 Virginia to identify current local options for housing, utilities, food, healthcare, transportation, legal assistance, and other needs. Ask for Abingdon and Washington County resources.

Food, SNAP-navigation, pantry referrals, housing and healthcare referrals, and community-resource pathway - Southwest Virginia, including the Abingdon area; 540-299-0004, weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; program, supply, and service-area rules vary; Not emergency dispatch

Feeding Southwest Virginia Hunger & Help Line

Feeding Southwest Virginia's Hunger & Help Line connects people with food programs and referrals to SNAP, healthcare, housing, and other services. Confirm current local eligibility, schedules, and supply before traveling.

Local free meal and food-access pathway - Feeding Southwest Virginia's Abingdon distribution center; Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. listed; current schedule, supply, household, and service-area rules must be confirmed; Not emergency dispatch or guaranteed delivery

Harvest Home Community Kitchen

Feeding Southwest Virginia lists Harvest Home Community Kitchen as a pathway for home-cooked meals and extra produce for people at risk of food insecurity. Call ahead to confirm current hours and availability.

Local directory for housing, food, healthcare, transportation, senior, legal, disability, and crisis resources - Washington County; directory details, eligibility, hours, and capacity must be confirmed directly; Not emergency dispatch or guaranteed provider match

Washington County Resource Library

The Washington County Resource Library organizes current regional pathways for food security, housing, healthcare, mental health, senior services, transportation, legal aid, and other needs. Confirm each listing directly.

Area-aging-agency pathway for home-delivered meals, nutrition, health education, ombudsman support, public guardianship, and caregiver resources - Washington County service area; age, referral, functional, and capacity rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or medical care

District Three Senior Services

District Three coordinates aging and caregiver services for Washington County, including home-delivered meals, nutrition, health information, ombudsman services, and public guardianship. Confirm current enrollment and referral requirements.

Rural public and senior transportation pathway - Washington County and Bristol area; reservations, routes, curb-to-curb limits, accessibility, and timing rules apply; 276-676-0700; Not emergency transport; call 911 for emergencies

Mountain Lynx Transit

Mountain Lynx Transit publishes scheduled routes from Washington County communities to Abingdon and other destinations. Reserve by the prior business day and confirm pickup, accessibility, and route details directly.

Public library, information, computers, Wi-Fi, learning, and community-program pathway - 205 Oak Hill Street, Abingdon; 276-676-6233; library card, hours, equipment, and program rules apply; Not emergency service

Washington County Public Library - Abingdon

Washington County Public Library's Abingdon location provides public information, computers, Wi-Fi, books, and community programming. Confirm current hours, card requirements, computer availability, and programs directly.

Statewide rental and affordable-housing search pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; property availability, screening, rent, deposits, accessibility, and landlord rules vary; Not emergency shelter or guaranteed placement

Virginia Housing Search

Virginia Housing Search provides a way to look for current rental and affordable-housing listings. Confirm availability, screening, deposits, accessibility, and application requirements directly with each property.

State housing, utility, weatherization, homelessness, and community-development information pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; program, income, property, funding, and application rules vary; Not emergency dispatch

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Virginia DHCD provides current information on affordable housing, weatherization, energy assistance, homelessness, and community programs. Use local access points when identified and confirm eligibility directly.

Rural housing, home-repair, community-facility, and housing-finance information pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; income, property, loan, grant, and program rules apply; Not emergency repair or guaranteed funding

USDA Rural Development Virginia

USDA Rural Development offers rural housing and community-program information that may be relevant to eligible Washington County households. Confirm current area, income, property, and application rules directly.

Civil-legal information and possible free or low-cost legal-help pathway - Washington County and Southwest Virginia; intake, income, case-type, conflict, and capacity rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or a guaranteed attorney

Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society

Southwest Virginia Legal Aid serves the Washington County area and may help eligible residents with civil-legal problems such as housing, public benefits, family, consumer, or safety-related issues. Confirm current intake and eligibility directly.

Statewide civil-legal screening and information pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; intake, income, case-type, conflict, and capacity rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or a guaranteed attorney

Virginia Legal Aid LawLine

Virginia Legal Aid provides a statewide starting point for civil-legal screening and information. Ask whether the issue is within scope and whether a local referral is available.

Federal Social Security, SSI, Medicare, disability, and benefits-information pathway - Nationwide, serving Washington County; federal eligibility, identity, appointment, and documentation rules apply; Not emergency dispatch

Social Security Administration

Use the Social Security Administration for Social Security, SSI, Medicare, disability, representative-payee, and related federal-benefit questions. Confirm current online and phone options directly.

State aging, disability, independent-living, vocational-rehabilitation, and caregiver information pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; program, age, disability, employment, and referral rules vary; Not emergency dispatch

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Virginia DARS provides information for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and people seeking vocational rehabilitation. Confirm the correct regional referral and current eligibility directly.

Veteran and family benefits, claims, healthcare-navigation, and referral pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; veteran status, service records, benefit, and appointment rules apply; Not emergency dispatch

Virginia Department of Veterans Services

Virginia Department of Veterans Services can help eligible veterans and families with claims, benefits, healthcare navigation, transportation, and referrals. Confirm current local access and appointment options.

Public-school, student-support, family, special-education, and school-social-work pathway - Washington County; enrollment, transportation, student, and service rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or adult clinical care

Washington County Public Schools

Washington County Public Schools can help families identify enrollment, counselors, special-education supports, family resources, and current attendance or transportation procedures.

Community-college, adult-learning, workforce, disability-support, and student-resource pathway - Abingdon area; admissions, tuition, aid, disability, and program rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or guaranteed employment

Virginia Highlands Community College

Virginia Highlands Community College provides education and workforce pathways that may support stability, employment, and community connection. Confirm current admissions, tuition, aid, accessibility, and programs directly.

Local education, family, food, agriculture, home, and practical-information pathway - Washington County; program, schedule, enrollment, and cost rules vary; Not emergency dispatch or clinical care

Washington County Cooperative Extension

Virginia Cooperative Extension's Washington County office provides local educational and practical information. Ask about current family, food, home, agriculture, and community programs.

County recreation, parks, activities, and community-connection pathway - Washington County; program, facility, age, schedule, accessibility, and fee rules apply; Not emergency dispatch or clinical care

Washington County Parks and Recreation

Washington County provides recreation and park information that may offer low-cost activities, public-space access, and community connection. Confirm current programs, facilities, schedules, accessibility, and fees.

County household-waste, recycling, transfer-station, and convenience-station pathway - Washington County; resident decal, accepted-material, hours, service-area, and fee rules apply; Not private cleanup or emergency response

Washington County Solid Waste and Convenience Stations

County convenience stations and the transfer station provide a practical route for household waste and recycling questions. Confirm current accepted materials, hours, decals, fees, and loading rules before traveling.

Municipal permits, code, utilities, streets, public works, parks, and town-service information pathway - 133 West Main Street, Abingdon; 276-628-3167; town jurisdiction, service-area, fee, and code rules apply; Not emergency dispatch, counseling, or private cleanup

Town of Abingdon Government and Forms

The Town of Abingdon provides the current municipal route for permits, codes, public works, utilities, parks, and other town services. Confirm town jurisdiction before making a property or service request.

State-road, right-of-way, access, traffic, and roadway-safety information pathway - Virginia, including Washington County; state, county, and town jurisdiction rules apply; Call 911 for an immediate roadway danger; Not private property cleanup

Virginia Department of Transportation

VDOT provides the state route for roadway, right-of-way, access, and traffic-safety questions. Confirm whether an issue belongs to VDOT, Washington County, or the Town of Abingdon before submitting a request.

Local public-health directory for behavioral health, WIC, immunizations, screenings, environmental health, and family services - Washington County; program eligibility, appointment, fee, and capacity rules apply; Not emergency dispatch

Washington County Health Department Services Directory

The Washington County Health Department's current service directory helps residents identify available public-health pathways. Confirm current services, hours, appointment requirements, and documents directly.

Statewide food, utility, healthcare, housing, and household-needs navigation - Virginia, including Washington County; free and confidential; referred providers set their own eligibility, cost, and capacity; Not emergency dispatch

Virginia 211 Food and Utility Assistance

Use 211 Virginia when a household needs help identifying food, utility assistance, housing, healthcare, transportation, or other practical programs in the Abingdon area.

A note from the Alliance

Start with the person. Then decide what the situation needs.

This guide is anchored in Abingdon, Virginia, and includes city, county, state, nonprofit, national, and independent pathways. A listing here does not mean Fight the Blight endorses every provider or can guarantee availability. The Hoarding Alliance is not a city or county agency, therapy practice, emergency service, or cleanup company. We will keep reviewing this page, but please confirm details directly before relying on them.

Need help choosing a path? Contact Fight the Blight