Center for Hoarding and Cluttering – Uniform Inspection Checklist

The Center for Hoarding and Cluttering offers a comprehensive inspection tool called the Uniform Inspection Checklist (UIC), designed to assess and track safety and sanitation in environments affected by hoarding. It emphasizes a harm-reduction approach and aims to support individuals, families, and professionals in addressing both physical and psychological aspects of hoarding. The checklist is based on a variety of standards, including housing codes, fire safety, and health guidelines, and provides measurable progress markers to guide intervention. It is adaptable for use by both trained professionals and other parties involved in hoarding situations.

The Institute for Challenging Disorganization – The ICD Clutter- Hoarding Scale

Quick Reference Guide

The ICD Quality of Life Scale

The Clutter–Hoarding Scale® by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) provides a detailed framework for assessing household clutter and hoarding. It uses five levels of assessment, ranging from Level I (low) to Level V (severe), with specific categories to evaluate the environment, including structural integrity, animal and pest control, household functionality, and health and safety.

• Level I (Green – Low): This represents a standard household with no significant issues. All systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) are functional, and there is no clutter obstructing household functions.
• Level II (Blue – Guarded): Here, a major exit is blocked, and some systems are not functioning properly. There may also be minor issues with animals or pests and slight clutter in key living areas.
• Level III (Yellow – Elevated): At this stage, clutter significantly obstructs household functions, and some rooms may not be used for their intended purposes. There is also evidence of pests or sanitation issues.
• Level IV (Orange – High): More severe clutter and potential structural damage are present. The situation requires a collaborative team of service providers, such as pest control or mental health professionals, to address the issues.
• Level V (Red – Severe): This level indicates extreme hoarding, where multiple systems are non-functional, and health and safety are at risk. The environment may be dangerous and requires immediate intervention.

This scale helps professionals determine the degree of support needed in hoarding situations, with Level III often being a tipping point where deeper intervention is necessary.

The International OCD Foundation – Clutter Image Rating Scale

The Clutter Image Rating (CIR) tool, available on the International OCD Foundation’s website, is a visual scale used to assess the degree of clutter in a household. It helps clinicians and individuals gauge the severity of clutter by comparing photographs of different living spaces at various stages of clutter. The tool includes a series of images, each representing a different level of clutter, ranging from minimal clutter (Level 1) to severe hoarding (Level 9).

Each image depicts a household space with varying amounts of clutter, which helps those affected by hoarding disorder recognize where their environment falls on the scale. It can also guide professionals in determining appropriate interventions.

Wellington-Guelph 10 Steps to a Safer, Healthier and More Comfortable Home

The Hoarding Response Checklist from the West Greater Toronto Hoarding Response is a tool used to assess and guide intervention for hoarding situations. It is divided into two sections: the first helps evaluate the severity of the clutter in a living space, and the second assesses the potential risks associated with the hoarding behaviors, including health and safety hazards.

This checklist is a comprehensive tool for professionals and teams working to intervene in hoarding situations. It provides structured guidelines to ensure that all critical factors are considered in the assessment, from structural issues to sanitation, safety, and health.