Calls to a phone line dedicated to receiving reports of hoarding appear to be rising, Victoria city councillors heard last week.
Councillors received a report listing 57 calls reporting a hoarder in 2014, 163 in 2015 and 108 to the end of July.
All calls were received as part of a team effort called the Hoarding Education and Action Team. It’s operated jointly by Victoria and Saanich fire departments and Island Health.
The number of confirmed cases of hoarding in Victoria reached 24 in 2015 and 22 up to the end of July.
Hoarding is a behaviour associated with a mental disorder that makes it difficult, even impossible, for a person to throw items away. Homes can be made impassable with items such as stacks of old newspapers or made foul by adopted pets.
Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce said the department mostly just takes down the information from a caller and passes it along to Island Health, which is making renewed efforts beginning next month with new support.
“It’s something that is getting better recognition as a community issue,” Bruce told the councillors.
