A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide
A respectful place to begin - whether you are looking for support for yourself, worried about someone you love, or trying to respond to a safety, housing, or practical concern.
Start here - Fight the Blight
Our virtual groups give people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns a place to connect from Washington, D.C. and other communities. We can help you think through what is happening and what kind of next step may fit.
Call 911 for a medical emergency, fire, or immediate threat. For behavioral-health support, call or text 988 or call the D.C. Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357. For non-emergency city services, call 311.
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.
Fight the Blight offers virtual support groups for people affected by hoarding and clutter concerns. Reach out from Washington, D.C. to ask about current group options and the best place to begin. This is a nonprofit, peer-centered starting point - not emergency or clinical care.
The District's APS FAQ specifically addresses hoarding situations and says APS can provide resources to declutter the home. APS also responds to allegations involving abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. APS is not a custodial agency and does not take custody or commit residents; call to report and ask what support fits the situation.
American University's clinic lists Compulsive Hoarding among the problems it treats and offers teletherapy to residents of Washington, D.C. and Maryland, plus in-person therapy to community members. The clinic is not a specialty hoarding program and may have a waitlist. Ask about current fit, cost, availability, and whether medical or higher-acuity care is needed.
The Department of Behavioral Health's Access Helpline connects District residents with certified behavioral-health providers and can help with immediate support or ongoing care. The District also describes same-day urgent care and mobile crisis options. This is not a cleanup service; call 911 for a medical emergency, fire, immediate danger, or a situation requiring emergency dispatch.
Safety and stability
These pathways serve different situations. Read the labels carefully before calling, especially when a response may involve protective services, housing screening, or emergency dispatch.
Call or text 988 for confidential support if someone is experiencing a mental-health, substance-use, or suicide-related crisis or emotional distress. It is a crisis-support pathway, not a long-term organizing service. The District's Access Helpline is also available for local behavioral-health navigation.
The 211 Warmline is the District's social-service referral and navigation hub for residents, seniors, children, and families. It can help with housing, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, mental health, and other supports. The District lists operating hours as Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; after hours, leave a voicemail for a callback. Call 911 for emergencies and 988 for mental-health crisis support.
The District Department of Human Services provides shelter, prevention, diversion, outreach, and housing programs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The shelter hotline can provide information and free accessible transportation to emergency shelter. Hours and access rules vary by season and household type, so confirm current options directly.
CAHP is the District's coordinated-entry system for people experiencing homelessness. It uses standardized assessment and referrals for permanent supportive housing, targeted affordable housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and other options. It can connect people to temporary housing and services, but it is not a guarantee of immediate or permanent placement.
D.C. 311 is the District's one-stop route for city services, information, and police non-emergencies. It may help with non-emergency property, sanitation, or city-service questions, but it is not a supportive hoarding intervention and should not replace 911 when health, safety, or property is in immediate danger.
People and practical help
These listings offer local connections for education, care, organizing, or cleanup. They are independent organizations; ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.
This independent Maryland provider advertises specialized compulsive-hoarding treatment, including individual therapy and home visits that practice decluttering skills in the person's environment. It is not a D.C. government program or a Fight the Blight service. Ask about current credentials, service area, insurance, private-pay rates, wait times, and fit.
NAPO-WDC maintains a directory of organizing and productivity professionals in the D.C. metro area, with search options that include hoarding and special populations. Membership does not guarantee fit or availability. Contact organizers directly and ask about training, scope, pricing, consent, privacy, and safety practices.
This local private provider advertises hoarding cleanup and decontamination services in Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas. It is not affiliated with Fight the Blight or the Alliance. Before agreeing to work, request a written scope, pricing, insurance, worker training, disposal plan, pest or biohazard coverage, and a process that keeps the person involved.
The International OCD Foundation directory can help people search for hoarding-related therapists, programs, support groups, and task forces. Availability, licensure, insurance, fees, and location can change; use it as a starting point and confirm every detail with the provider.
A note from the Alliance
A listing here does not mean Fight the Blight endorses every provider or can guarantee availability. The Hoarding Alliance is not a District 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