A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide
You deserve support that begins with what matters to you. You can start with a question, a conversation, or one manageable next step.
Start here - Fight the Blight
Fight the Blight is the nonprofit front door and offers virtual peer-support groups; ask about current fit and capacity from Summersville or elsewhere. The Peer Tree is a separate private-pay pathway; confirm scope, service area, availability, and fees. Unburied is a digital peer-support pathway, not therapy or emergency support. Local listings are independent options, not endorsements; confirm access, eligibility, cost, and fit directly.
For immediate danger, fire, rescue, or urgent medical response, call 911. For emotional distress or a behavioral-health crisis, call or text 988 or call Seneca Health Services at 888-736-3229. Help4WV offers a separate 24/7 behavioral-health and substance-use helpline. If someone may be experiencing abuse or neglect, West Virginia DoHS accepts reports at 1-800-352-6513; this is not a routine hoarding or cleanup referral. For current shelter and basic-needs referrals, try WV 211; a referral does not guarantee an opening or placement.
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.
A separate private-pay pathway for hoarding-related support. Ask directly about scope, location, availability, travel, and current fees before making plans. This is distinct from Fight the Blight's nonprofit programming and is not emergency care.
Unburied is a digital peer-support pathway for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns and for friends and family. It supports connection and ongoing peer support, not therapy, emergency response, or local case management.
Call 211 or 1-833-848-9905, or text a ZIP code to 898-211, to ask about current food, housing, utility, transportation, health, and family-service options. Search the online directory too. Local openings and eligibility vary; a referral does not guarantee assistance or placement and is not emergency dispatch.
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, rescue, or urgent medical response. If it is safe, explain what response would help and share access, mobility, or communication needs. Routine county offices and referrals are not emergency dispatch.
Seneca says trained crisis professionals are available by phone 24/7 at 888-736-3229 and that initial crisis services are free and confidential. Ask for support that fits the situation; this line is not emergency dispatch. For immediate danger or urgent medical response, call 911.
Call or text 988, or use the online chat, to connect with a trained crisis counselor. The service is available around the clock for emotional distress and suicidal crisis; it is not a local hoarding service or a substitute for 911 when immediate physical danger or urgent medical response is present.
Help4WV lists 844-435-7498 for calls and texts and an online chat option, available 24/7. Use it to ask about behavioral-health or substance-use support and pathways. Texting may incur carrier charges; for immediate danger or urgent medical response call 911.
West Virginia lists 1-800-352-6513 for reports of suspected abuse or neglect, including concerns involving vulnerable adults. Use this channel for the protective-services purpose it serves, not as a routine hoarding or cleanup referral. Call 911 for immediate danger.
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 to discuss domestic violence and safety options. If phone or browser activity may be monitored, consider a safer device and clear history only if doing so is safe. This is not an emergency dispatch service; call 911 for immediate danger.
The Nicholas County Commission lists the Homeland Security and Emergency Management/E911 office at 449 Water Street in Summersville, 304-872-7892. Contact it for county preparedness or E911 administrative information. It is not a substitute for 911 dispatch during an emergency.
Nicholas County says residents can text their ZIP code to 888777 to enroll in its Nixle community-notification system. Alerts may be sent by text, email, voice, web, or app. Delivery and timing are not guaranteed; use 911 for emergency response and official instructions for active incidents.
HUD's West Virginia page links housing counselors and housing or homelessness resources. If at risk of or experiencing homelessness, HUD directs people to call 211 and press 6 for homeless-services referrals. Program openings, eligibility, and placement must be confirmed directly; this page cannot guarantee a bed or housing.
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.
Seneca lists a Summersville location at 131 Wellness Drive and services for mental health, substance use, crisis support, and intellectual disabilities. Its site lists weekday and Saturday clinic hours and welcomes new-client walk-ins; call 888-736-3229 first to confirm current intake, accessibility, insurance, fees, and fit. Seneca is not identified here as a hoarding-specialty provider.
WVU Medicine lists Summersville Regional Medical Center at 400 Fairview Heights Road and open 24 hours, with an emergency room. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the department; routine clinic access, billing, and insurance are separate and should be confirmed directly.
The West Virginia Department of Health lists the Nicholas County Health Department at 1 Stevens Road in Summersville, phone 304-872-5329, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Contact the department to confirm which public-health services are currently offered, appointment needs, and any fees. Use 911 for emergencies.
Nicholas CAP lists its office at 1205 Broad Street in Summersville, weekdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m., phone 304-872-1162. Ask about current services, application steps, accessibility, and program capacity before traveling. A referral or application is not an approval or guarantee of funds.
Nicholas CAP describes emergency utility assistance for people under threat of utility termination. If a shutoff is pending, contact the agency promptly at 304-872-1162 and ask what notice and household documents are required and whether funds are currently available. Help is not guaranteed.
Nicholas CAP says its weatherization program uses energy-efficiency measures to ease costs for lower-income households. Call to ask about current applications, property and income criteria, owner or renter permissions, waitlists, and scope. It does not promise immediate repairs or cleanup.
Nicholas CAP describes senior services that may include nutrition, transportation, in-home respite, and dementia-related assistance. Call 304-872-1162 to ask about current offerings, age or assessment rules, service area, fees, and waitlists; the website does not guarantee an opening or immediate in-home help.
Nicholas CAP describes Head Start as supporting school readiness for children ages 3 and 4 through education and related services. Contact the program to confirm current enrollment, family eligibility, locations, and available slots; a listing is not a promise of a placement.
The City of Summersville describes the Nicholas County Senior Center as a place for older adults to socialize, attend activities, and access meals and events. Call 304-872-8147 before visiting to confirm current programming, schedule, eligibility, meals, transportation, and any charges. The page also lists room-rental fees, which are not participation fees.
MTA's current Summersville Call-A-Ride page lists weekday service, named route stops, flag stops and deviations up to three-quarters of a mile, with fares of $1 within city limits and $3 outside. Call 304-872-5872 to confirm the day's route, trip booking, accessibility, fare, and holiday schedule before relying on it. For an ambulance or urgent emergency, call 911.
West Virginia's Bureau for Medical Services says non-ambulance trips for Medicaid- and WVCHIP-covered services are managed through the statewide broker. Confirm member eligibility, covered destination, advance notice, approval, and current booking instructions before the appointment. This benefit does not cover general errands; call 911 for emergencies.
The state describes services for eligible adults who meet financial and medical criteria, including personal assistance and other supports. The application requires a medical-needs evaluation and financial eligibility review. Ask the Bureau of Senior Services at 1-866-767-1575 about application steps, assessment, provider availability, and wait time; applying is not approval.
The state lists the local office at 707 Professional Park Drive, Summersville, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., phone 304-872-0803. Services listed include Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, utility programs, emergency assistance, and social-service programs. Ask which program handles the need and what eligibility applies; for immediate danger call 911.
The state's PATH portal is an online starting point for public-benefit applications and case access. Review the current program list and required documents, and contact DoHS if the portal does not fit the situation or urgent deadlines apply. Submitting an application does not guarantee eligibility or immediate benefits.
The West Virginia Association of Family Resource Networks lists a Nicholas County contact and links a 2026 county resource guide. Call 304-872-4707 to confirm current contact, directory details, and which local partner is appropriate; a network referral does not guarantee a service opening.
The library lists 6201 Webster Road and weekday hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Its site explains how to obtain a card and access books, digital books, and interlibrary loans. Confirm current hours and card documents before traveling; the library is not a case-management or crisis service.
The West Virginia Judiciary lists the Nicholas County Courthouse at 700 Main Street in Summersville and the Circuit Clerk at 304-872-7810. Contact the clerk for records and filing procedures, not legal advice. For civil legal-help eligibility, see Legal Aid WV; use 911 for emergencies.
Nicholas County lists the County Clerk at 304-872-7820. The office handles county records and other statutory functions; call or review its site to confirm the correct office, service, hours, and current fees before traveling. This is an administrative contact, not legal counsel.
The County Assessor lists 304-872-7800 for property-assessment questions and posts information about tax maps and the Homestead Exemption. Call to verify current criteria, deadlines, and paperwork before relying on an exemption. The office cannot determine utility aid, housing availability, or cleanup needs.
The County Commission site links county offices, emergency management, notices, agendas, and ordinances. Call 304-872-7830 to ask where a county-level question belongs. Local ordinances, property concerns, and services depend on jurisdiction; do not assume a county listing applies inside city limits or vice versa.
The City lists its office at 400 North Broad Street, 304-872-1211, weekdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Water/wastewater maintenance lists 304-872-5828 for leaks, low pressure, line breaks, and service questions, and identifies 304-872-7814 for utility emergencies. Confirm whether the property is within city service territory; emergency dispatch remains 911.
Legal Aid WV handles selected civil matters, including some housing and public-benefit issues. Services are free to accepted clients, though court filing fees may apply. Apply online or call 866-255-4370 during posted phone-intake hours; for a hearing or deadline within 10 days, call rather than relying on an online form. It does not handle criminal cases.
West Virginia Senior Legal Aid is a separate pathway for older residents seeking help with civil legal issues. Call 800-229-5068 or use its request page to confirm eligibility, scope, and intake. The organization says it cannot accept walk-ins; do not travel without an appointment.
WorkForce West Virginia provides online job-seeker information and an office directory. Search current jobs and training, then confirm the nearest available service, appointment needs, and program eligibility. This directory does not guarantee a local walk-in site, job opening, or income assistance.
Feeding America's locator can identify a regional food bank and partner distributions by ZIP code. Contact the local provider before traveling to verify dates, hours, household rules, and what to bring. WV 211 can also search for current basic-needs referrals.
SAMHSA offers national treatment locators for mental-health and substance-use services. Use the search to identify possible options, then verify credentials, actual service fit, availability, insurance, and fees with the provider. For emotional crisis support call or text 988; for immediate danger call 911.
The West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services can help explain aging programs and connect people to information. Ask for current Nicholas County contacts, eligibility, assessment steps, and wait times. A referral does not establish program approval or immediate in-home availability.
HUD's West Virginia page links housing counselors, rental information, and eviction resources. Call 800-569-4287 to ask about an approved housing counselor and current service terms. For homelessness referrals, call 211 and press 6; availability and placement are not guaranteed.
City and county rules are not interchangeable. The Nicholas County Commission FAQ says zoning rules are generally handled within Summersville and Richwood city limits; contact the relevant local office to verify whether a property lies inside a municipality and what approvals apply before moving, discarding, repairing, or arranging access. This is general navigation, not legal advice.
A note from the Alliance
This guide is anchored in Summersville, West 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