Hoarder Help Fund

For professionals

Professional referrals for hoarding support

For councils, housing associations, social workers, support workers, charities, NHS and community teams, and other organisations supporting someone whose home has become unsafe or difficult to manage.

Who refers

A support and funding route for the people you work with

Hoarder Help Fund isn’t a commercial clearance provider. It’s a route to funded or subsidised practical support for people affected by hoarding, where cost is the barrier. We welcome referrals from:

  • Councils
  • Housing associations
  • Social workers
  • Support workers
  • Charities
  • NHS and community teams
  • Other professional referrers

Suitability

Cases that may be suitable

  • Hoarding is making the home unsafe or difficult to use.
  • Cost is preventing appropriate practical help.
  • The person may benefit from funded or subsidised support.
  • The case can be assessed and suitable support arranged.

Cost as the barrier

The fund is intended for people who can’t reasonably afford the practical help they need. It isn’t a route for routine paid clearance work.

Safety and usability

We prioritise situations where the home has become unsafe or difficult to use – for example blocked exits, inaccessible kitchens or bathrooms, or no safe access to heating and electrics. Our page on hoarding and home safety sets out the main areas.

Making a referral

What information to provide

Share what you can. We’ll come back to you if we need more.

  • Your name, organisation, role and contact details.
  • The person’s general area.
  • A brief summary of the situation and the main concerns.
  • Whether the person has consented to the referral.
  • Any safeguarding or access information.
  • Other professionals or services already involved, where relevant.

Please don’t send detailed medical information. We’ll ask for anything else we need.

Safeguarding and access

Safeguarding and access information

To keep everyone safe and plan properly, it helps to know about:

  • Known risks at the property, such as structural concerns, pests, animals or hazardous items.
  • Any risks to visitors or lone workers.
  • Access arrangements, key holders and the best times to visit.
  • Any existing safeguarding involvement, such as concerns about self-neglect.

Clutter Image Rating (optional)

If you already use the Clutter Image Rating scale, including a rating can help us understand the situation. It isn’t required, and we don’t expect you to carry one out especially.

Assessment

What the assessment process may involve

  1. We review the referral

    We look at the information provided and acknowledge receipt.

  2. We talk with you and the person

    We get a clearer picture of the home, their wishes and what help may be needed.

  3. A visit, by agreement

    Where appropriate, the home is seen in person, sometimes alongside a delivery partner.

  4. A written outline

    We set out what’s needed, what may be funded and any limits.

We aim to acknowledge referrals promptly and will confirm next steps once the initial information has been reviewed.

If support is approved

What happens if support is approved

Approved work is carried out by suitable experienced clearance partners, to an agreed scope and at a pace the person can manage. We keep you updated at agreed stages, so you can plan wider support around the work. Where appropriate, reusable items are recovered to help support future cases.

What happens during a hoarding clearance explains the practical side.

Funding

Funding isn’t guaranteed

Support depends on eligibility, assessment and the funds available at the time. It may be full, partial or not available. We’ll always be straight with you about what we can and can’t offer.

How funding works explains where the money comes from and how decisions are made.

How funding works →Eligibility, available funds and how support is paid for.What happens during a clearance →Agreed scope, safe access first and respectful handling.Work with us →Partnership working, referrals and funding.

Refer someone for support

Share what you can, and we’ll confirm next steps once we’ve reviewed it.

Make a referral