Enforced Harm Reduction

The Hoarding Connection of Cuyahoga County recommends that municipalities adopt the Enforced Harm Reduction model used by the Orange County, CA Hoarding Task Force. This model relies on a team of housing enforcement and social, health and mental health services personnel to work with the person who hoards. The goal is long-term management of the situation; not elimination. The Cuyahoga County Hoarding Connection recommends a goal of achieving Level III or lower on the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) Clutter Hoarding Scale. Any progress is beneficial. It includes the person who hoards in the decision-making to the extent he/she is able.

Benefits of Enforced Harm Reduction

The Enforced Harm Reduction model:

Elements of the Enforced Harm Reduction Model

Enforced Harm Reduction Includes:

The Enforced Harm Reduction Team

Members of the team include:

Some notes about the housing safety and the helper role:

Our special thanks to the Orange CA Hoarding Task Force for their pioneering work in developing the Enforced Harm Reduction Model and training and consultation for this project. We also thank the Older Ohioans Behavioral Health Network for their start-up support of the Cuyahoga County Hoarding Connection.