Printer
TextHoarding Task Force
A County Inspector in an Entry Foyer
Formed in 1998, the Hoarding Task Force combines the resources of county agencies to provide a coordinated response to residential hoarding when it threatens life, safety and property.
Member Agencies
Each participating agency brings a specialty that is not found in any one other agency. Below is a brief summary of some of the agencies and their contributions.
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Adult Protective Services and Child Protective
Services provide social workers to interview and assess the
needs and/or risks of any children and adults living in a hoarding
environment. They are also a frontline to the many programs available
to those individuals in need.
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Law enforcement services to the task force are provided by the Police Department and the Sheriff's Office which also provides
eviction experience. The Animal
Services Division of the Police Department provides the
expertise to ensure an animal's welfare in animal hoarding cases or
when a pet is living in a hoarding condition.
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County Attorney's Office provides the link between the county's
response, law enforcement, court action and the rights of the
individual.
- Fire and Rescue Department has the responsibility of enforcing the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code which grants fire marshals the authority to evacuate an unsafe structure, take actions to help bring compliance and take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of the public and emergency response personnel.
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Health Department enforces health code
regulations and has the authority to declare a property unfit for
occupancy.
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Department of Housing and Community
Development offers programs that help owners bring blighted
structures into compliance.
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Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services
Board - Mental Health Services
provides on- and off-site mental health evaluations and recommendations
through the Mobile Crisis Unit, the Program for Older Adults and Their
Families and Adult Community Services.
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Department of Code Compliance has the responsibility of
enforcing the Virginia Maintenance Code, the state minimum housing
standards, and the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance.
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Department of Public Works and Environmental
Services provides on-site engineering and building evaluation
expertise in order to assess a structure's condition and can
provide immediate action when removing the accumulation of waste and
debris.
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Office of Public Affairs disseminates
information regarding high profile hoarding cases to the Board of
Supervisors, residents and the media.
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Members of the Board of
Supervisors are represented on the task force by staff aides
who keep their board member informed and provide assistance on cases
within their district.
- The towns of Vienna and Herndon provide law enforcement and zoning enforcement for cases within their jurisdictions.
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