A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide
You can begin with one concern that matters today. You do not have to sort everything out before asking for information or support.
Start here - Fight the Blight
If clutter, a home-safety concern, or the stress around it is weighing on you, you deserve respectful support without shame. Start with a conversation that feels manageable. Ask what is available, what it costs, and what choices remain yours. No local hoarding-specialty clinician or hoarding-specific cleanout provider was independently verified for this guide.
For immediate danger, fire, or urgent medical help, call 911. For emotional crisis support, call or text 988, or call Hopewell Health Centers at 1-888-475-8484. Local listings are independent options, not endorsements; availability, cost, eligibility, and service areas can change. The Sunset Shelter Project is still undergoing renovations according to its current project page; do not assume it is open or has beds.
First conversations
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.
The Peer Tree is a private-pay pathway when grant-funded help is not available or does not fit. Confirm service area, scope, availability, and cost before making plans.
Unburied offers digital peer support for people directly affected and the people who care about them. It is not therapy or emergency support and does not replace professional care.
Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-644-6211 for information about local food, housing, utility, and support options. Ask about current hours, documents, eligibility, and availability with each referred program.
Safety and stability
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.
Call 911 for immediate danger, fire, or urgent medical help. Do not use email or a non-emergency resource to request an urgent response.
Call or text 988 for emotional crisis support. If there is immediate danger, a fire, or urgent medical need, call 911.
Hopewell states that crisis intervention and hospital prescreening are available by phone 24 hours a day, every day. Call 1-888-475-8484; its Athens line is 740-593-3344. Ask about the appropriate next step for the situation.
OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital is at 55 Hospital Drive in Athens and lists a 24-hour emergency department. Call 911 for transport when needed. Financial assistance is subject to the hospital’s current policy and application review.
My Sister’s Place provides a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. Call 1-800-443-3402 to talk through options. Do not assume a shelter bed is available; confirm safely with the hotline.
The Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program lists a 24-hour hotline at 740-591-4266 for people affected by sexual or domestic violence, stalking, trafficking, and related harm. A call does not guarantee housing or a specific service placement.
Hopewell lists its Respite Adult Crisis Program at 7976 Dairy Lane in Athens, phone 740-593-5164. Contact the program or Hopewell crisis line first to confirm whether it is an appropriate and available option.
The health department is listed at 278 West Union Street in Athens, phone 740-592-4431. Contact it for public-health questions and current programs. For an immediate medical emergency, call 911.
For a property within Athens city limits, Code Enforcement can explain local inspection and complaint options. The city lists its office at 28 Curran Drive, phone 740-592-3306. County or village addresses may have different authorities.
For a possible poisoning or unsafe exposure, contact Poison Control for situation-specific instructions. For severe symptoms or immediate danger, call 911 rather than waiting for an online reply.
People and practical help
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.
The 317 Board coordinates a network of local behavioral-health and recovery agencies. Its directory can help identify appropriate providers, but the board does not guarantee an appointment, coverage, or placement.
Hopewell lists its Athens clinic at 90 Hospital Drive, phone 740-592-3091. The organization offers behavioral health and primary care; it says primary care access includes a sliding-fee scale for uninsured and underinsured patients. Call to confirm services, costs, and intake.
HRS lists an Athens location at 224 Columbus Road, phone 740-592-6720. Its services include behavioral-health counseling and recovery support. Ask about current services and costs; no hoarding-disorder specialty is represented here.
The clinic provides free primary care for qualifying adults ages 18–64 and can help connect people to other care. Appointments and clinic dates vary; call 740-593-2432 before traveling.
The Gathering Place offers peer support and community activities at 7 North Congress Street in Athens. Its site lists phone 740-594-7337 and current hours; confirm before traveling because schedules may change.
NAMI Athens is listed in the national affiliate directory for Athens and neighboring counties. Contact the affiliate to verify current support groups, classes, and meeting details; offerings can change.
Athens County JFS is located at 13183 State Route 13 in Millfield, phone 740-797-2523. Ask about current county services or apply for eligible food, cash, and medical benefits through Ohio Benefits.
Use Ohio Benefits to explore or apply for available state programs. If internet access, documents, or an application step is a barrier, contact Athens County JFS for guidance. Eligibility decisions are made by the administering program.
AMHA administers public housing and voucher programs in Athens County. Its FAQ explains general application requirements, but current waitlist status and units are not guaranteed; call before relying on a program for urgent housing.
Hocking Athens Perry Community Action describes home repair, weatherization, rehabilitation, and housing programs. The Weatherization Assistance Program may be no-cost to income-eligible households, but service area, funding, and wait time must be confirmed.
HAPCAP lists HEAP, seasonal crisis, and other energy-assistance pathways. Funding windows and eligibility change; ask what is currently open and what documents are needed.
The consortium can explain fair-housing options and help with complaints or referrals. HAPCAP lists service for Athens County and nearby counties; call to confirm current intake and whether a concern falls within its scope.
Good Works identifies Timothy House as a shelter in Athens serving people without housing, including adults and families, across an eight-county area. Call 740-594-3333 to ask about intake, current openings, and next steps. The Sunset Shelter Project is not listed as open; its current page says renovations continue.
The pantry lists its location at 13183A State Route 13 in Millfield and phone 740-590-7051. The site posts weekday and limited Saturday hours but notes holiday changes; call before traveling to confirm current hours and availability.
Athens On Demand requires registration and advance reservations based on availability. HAPCAP lists weekday and Saturday ride times and a $2 general fare, with a $1 discounted fare ID; call 740-597-2404 to confirm schedule, coverage, fare, accessibility, and booking details.
HAPCAP lists fixed-route service in Athens and nearby communities. Its fare page describes free rides through April 2027 with a Community Member pass; check the current schedule and fare page or call 740-592-2727 before traveling.
United Seniors describes programs for older adults in Athens County, including service navigation and transportation options. Contact the organization to confirm current eligibility, trip coverage, and availability before planning around a ride.
The Athens branch is listed at 30 Home Street, Athens, phone 740-592-4272. Contact the library to confirm hours and available public computers, internet, printing, and other services before visiting.
The City of Athens lists Utilities Billing at 740-592-3347. Contact the city to ask about billing questions and current payment options. If a utility hazard creates immediate danger, contact emergency services and the utility using its current emergency instructions.
The district lists recycling guidance and rural drop-off locations. Its materials-recovery facility is not a general public drop-off; do not assume furniture, household cleanout debris, or hazardous material will be accepted. Confirm the item and site first.
The county veterans office lists services at 88 North Plains Road, Suite 102, The Plains, phone 740-592-3216. Contact the office to ask about current claims assistance, eligibility, and appointment requirements.
The VA lists an outpatient clinic in Athens. Check the official VA page or call the Chillicothe VA Health Care system to verify current location, hours, and available services before traveling.
LASCO is the regional legal-aid provider for Athens County. Apply through its official intake process to learn whether a civil legal issue fits current eligibility and service capacity. The organization does not handle every matter.
The county law library offers legal-research resources and information about access to materials. Call 740-593-8893 to confirm current hours and services; use a licensed attorney or legal-aid provider for legal advice.
Ohio State University Extension provides county-based education and community programming. Contact the Athens County office for current classes and services; no hoarding-specific clinical service is implied.
OhioHealth publishes financial-assistance information, including its application process. Approval is not automatic; contact the hospital billing office about current eligibility, required documents, and services covered.
The county board describes supports for eligible people with developmental disabilities and their families. Contact the board to ask about eligibility, service coordination, and current programs; its after-hours number is limited to the board’s stated emergencies.
Athens County lists community programs and regional service links, including transportation and support organizations. Use it to identify possible starting points, then verify hours, eligibility, and openings with the provider.
Use the county directory to identify the right department for a question about local services, solid waste, public offices, or records. Confirm jurisdiction first: the City of Athens and Athens County are separate governments.
HAPCAP’s transportation hub describes local, demand-response, and regional options. Do not assume every route serves a specific address; check the current route, stop, schedule, fare, and reservation rules first.
The Network of Care can help locate contracted behavioral-health and recovery agencies. Use it to ask questions about provider scope and access; inclusion in the directory is not an endorsement or guarantee of an appointment.
People enrolled in Ohio Medicaid may have non-emergency transportation options through a plan or local program. Ask the health plan about covered trips, documentation, and scheduling; availability is not guaranteed for every trip.
A note from the Alliance
This guide is anchored in Athens, Ohio, 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