Neighbors Up In Arms As Hoarder's Pile Of Trash Grows 8 Feet High In Driveway & Outside His Mother's House

Jan 16, 2023 by apost team

Hoarding is a serious issue that affects not only the hoarder but everyone who lives near them as well. Hoarding houses can become breeding grounds for vermin and pests, and unfortunately, these creatures will spread throughout the neighborhood. This has been the case for neighbors living on the same street as a hoarder’s house in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. These fed-up neighbors have reached out to the city numerous times, and their pleas were finally heard. 

Edward Lim and Leticia Cruz were just two neighbors living next door to a hoarder’s house. Cruz said she had contacted the city's local authorities for 10 years to try and get someone to help with the problem. The owner of the home was a 90-year-old woman, but the one doing all of the hoarding was her son. Their identities have been kept private. However, they have allowed city clean-up crews into the home to remove the trash. 

The neighbors were relieved that something was finally being done about the garbage and pests. The city began to clean up in early November 2021 and estimated it would take them about a week to clear the eight feet of garbage and junk surrounding the home, as well as make their way through the interior. A friend of the homeowner said that the woman was in good health, but there had been concern about fall risks due to the condition of the home. 

This problem finally looked as though it was being solved, but Lim said he was worried about all of the vermin and bugs living inside the house. They might suddenly move out once all of the trash was removed, finding their way to his home next. Keep reading to learn more about this troubling neighborhood. 

According to KTLA news, psychotherapist John Tsilimparis said hoarders could suffer from an attachment disorder. “The reason why they keep so much of it is because they have such fear of letting it go,” he explained. The Mayo-Clinic also recognizes hoarding as a mental health disorder.

According to CBS News, Ruiz said about their neighbor's home, "Every time I had a complaint, someone came, they took a picture and that was it. They would just write a letter … and nothing (would) happen." 

The massive wall of rubbish contained items such as laundry baskets, old doors and lamps, among other random objects. NHS UK reported that there are many reasons that people may hoard, which include mental health issues as well as physical disabilities. Some people may just not be able to clear out the clutter that keeps building within their homes.

However, for this neighborhood in Koreatown, the 90-year woman's son appeared to be the hoarder. "I’ve noticed a resident step in and out of his car a few times, and he has things going on, so the situation is getting worse," said another neighbor Sharonda Williams. BestinAU also reported that neighbors became concerned knowing that the older woman had difficulty moving and had, on multiple occasions, fallen, which prompted action to remove the massive collection of rubbish around the house. 

The neighborhood banded together to try and get something done about the troublesome home on their street. They got the attention of Inside Edition, whose coverage helped to convince the authorities to intervene.

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“A home is supposed to be a place that is safe and clean. You don’t imagine your home to be right next to this,” Lim said. 

The problem had also become impossible to ignore when pests began making their way into the neighbors’ homes. Lim shared, “We used to not have any problems with bugs… but in the past two years, we’ve been seeing more and more bugs in the house. I’ve been hearing rats just scurrying about.”

Lim also said he tried to speak with the man doing the hoarding in the past. He explained, “We’ve made multiple requests, you know, to have some of this removed, and we said, ‘Hey when are you getting this removed?’ He said ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to get rid of it.’” Sadly, it seems the man was unable to part with the stuff on his own. 

The neighbors began to fear for their own health and safety due to the mess. “It’s been more than 10 years. I have a record. I even wrote a letter to the mayor. I’m scared that I’m really getting sick. I’m old,” Cruz said.

According to CBS News, after recognizing that major problem, firefighters, doctors and representatives from the office of councilor Mark Ridley Thomas visited the house in order to ensure the safety of the homeowner. Once they confirmed her health and safety, the 90-year-old woman then signed an agreement under which the city would clean the property.

The local authorities could finally deal with the situation in November 2021, and six trucks were needed to load the trash and carry them off. 

What do you think of this house? What would you do if you lived next to this? Let us know, and be sure to send this on to your friends and family.