Hoarding and Squalor NDIS: What Support Coordinators Need to Know

Hoarding and squalor are among the most complex and misunderstood challenges faced by NDIS participants and by the Support Coordinators working alongside them. These situations rarely emerge overnight. They develop gradually, often alongside psychosocial disability, trauma, cognitive decline, or periods of disengagement from support.

For Support Coordinators, hoarding and squalor are not just environmental issues. They are risk indicators that can signal tenancy breakdown, safeguarding concerns, health deterioration, and imminent crisis if not addressed early.

At Residence Revival, we work directly inside homes every day. What we see is clear. Early, trauma‑informed intervention changes outcomes. Delay escalates risk.

Understanding Hoarding vs Squalor (Why the Difference Matters)

Although often grouped together, hoarding and squalor are not the same, and each requires a different response.

Hoarding is characterised by difficulty discarding items, excessive accumulation, and emotional distress associated with possessions. It is frequently linked to trauma, anxiety, OCD‑related behaviours, or neurodivergence.

Squalor refers to living environments that pose significant health and safety risks due to extreme hygiene breakdown. It is often associated with psychosocial disability, severe depression, cognitive impairment, substance use, or prolonged disengagement.

Many participants experience both simultaneously, and both sit firmly within the NDIS context when they impact functional capacity and safety.

Why Hoarding and Squalor Are NDIS Issues, Not “Cleaning Problems”

One of the most common misconceptions is that hoarding and squalor can be resolved with standard domestic cleaning. In reality, these environments are often the visible outcome of deeper functional and psychosocial challenges.

For Support Coordinators, unmanaged hoarding or squalor can lead to:

• Tenancy breaches or eviction risk

• Safeguarding concerns

• Increased hospital presentations

• Service refusal or disengagement

• Inability for support workers or clinicians to safely enter the home

• Escalation to emergency or statutory responses

Without the home being stabilised, plans stall, outcomes decline, and risks compound.

Early Warning Signs Support Coordinators Should Watch For

Hoarding and squalor usually present warning signs long before crisis point. These include:

• Repeated missed or refused inspections

• Support workers reporting safety concerns

• Increasing clutter restricting access or exits

• Strong odours, pests, or hygiene complaints

• Participant withdrawal or avoidance

• Declining engagement with services

• Neighbours or housing providers raising concerns

When these signs appear, early intervention is critical. Waiting until a breach notice or hospital admission removes choice and control for the participant.

The Importance of Trauma‑Informed Intervention

Most participants living in hoarding or squalor conditions have experienced trauma. Heavy‑handed or rushed responses often result in:

• Increased distress

• Complete disengagement

• Re‑accumulation after forced clean‑outs

• Loss of trust in services

A trauma‑informed approach means:

• Working at the participant’s pace

• Prioritising safety over perfection

• Avoiding shame or judgement

• Building trust through consistency

• Supporting choice and control wherever possible

This approach is not slower. It is more effective.

The Role of Practical Support Providers Like Residence Revival

Residence Revival does not replace clinicians, behavioural practitioners, or Support Coordinators. Our role is to provide the practical stabilisation layer that allows other supports to function.

We support Coordinators by:

• Delivering hoarding and squalor interventions safely and respectfully

• Reducing immediate health and tenancy risks

• Creating access so supports can re‑engage

• Providing structured, evidence‑based reporting

• Flagging emerging risks early

• Supporting tenancy preservation and discharge planning

Because we are inside the home, we often see changes long before they appear in reports or reviews.

Funding and Planning Considerations for Support Coordinators

Hoarding and squalor support may be funded under Core Supports when directly linked to functional impairment, safety, and daily living. Clear evidence is essential.

Strong evidence includes:

• Environmental risk observations

• Impact on activities of daily living and safety

• Barriers to service access

• Tenancy risk documentation

• Before‑and‑after reporting

• Support worker incident reports

Early, well‑documented intervention strengthens plan reviews and reduces crisis‑driven funding requests.

Why Early Action Protects Everyone

When hoarding and squalor are addressed early:

• Participants remain housed

• Supports stay engaged

• Health risks reduce

• Hospitalisations decline

• Tenancies are preserved

• Coordinators avoid reactive crisis management

When action is delayed, the system absorbs the cost through hospitals, emergency services, housing breakdown, and disengagement.

What Support Coordinators Can Do Now

If you are supporting a participant where hoarding or squalor may be emerging:

• Act early

• Engage practical, trauma‑informed support

• Document risks clearly

• Collaborate with housing and clinical teams

• Avoid crisis‑only responses

Stability starts in the home.

Final Thought

Hoarding and squalor are not failures of motivation or responsibility. They are complex, human responses to disability, trauma, and overwhelm.

For Support Coordinators, understanding this and responding early can be the difference between stability and crisis.

At Residence Revival, we exist to support that early action. Because when homes are stabilised, everything else can move forward.