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Hoarded homes can pose a threat to public safety, with heightened risks of fire hazards, pest infestations and noxious odours in both the home and neighbouring dwellings. Communities across North America are responding to these public safety concerns through a harm reduction approach. This descriptive study explores the implementation and outcomes of the City of Vancouver's approach involving a partnership between fire prevention and public health. Data were collected from the team's 2016–2018 case tracking systems, consisting of health records and team intervention record, as well as notes taken from case briefing meetings. Study objectives included describing the intervention model, providing descriptive statistics on clients and their clutter volume, the interventions undertaken, and exploring predictors of clutter volume and case outcome through exploratory analyses. The sample included 82 cases involving severely hoarded conditions or more moderate hoarding conditions paired with additional client vulnerabilities (e.g. health conditions, frailty). Results from paired samples t‐tests and regression analysis, suggest the Hoarding Action Response Team's (HART) model of a community‐based intervention for hoarding was associated with clutter reduction and tenancy preservation. HART successfully maintained engagement with most clients, and most cases were closed within six home visits. Despite these successes, the team dealt with several barriers including client avoidance and limited resources. This paper provides guidance for communities who are working to develop a coordinated response to problems associated with hoarding and begins to establish expectations for what can be achieved through a community‐based hoarding intervention model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our purpose in this paper is to report on the frustrations and unmet needs of paid, formal caregivers and unpaid, family caregivers who together provide care to adults with disabilities and/or mental health issues. We conducted eight focus group interviews between November 2010 and June 2011 in two large, urban centres and one smaller centre in Western Canada. Four of our focus groups were with family members including adults with disabilities and/or mental health issues, their parents and their siblings, and four were with representatives from agencies providing support and services to adults with disabilities and/or mental health issues and their families. Data were collected from 23 family members and 24 agency representatives who responded to questions about successes and struggles in meeting, and collaborating to meet, care needs of adults with disabilities and/or mental health issues. Each focus group session was digitally recorded and transcribed; field notes were also taken and we thematically analysed data according to family versus agency perspectives of their successes and barriers in care provision and care collaboration. We found that family members desire greater and more effective support in enriching the lives of adults with disabilities and/or mental health issues and in preparing for age-related changes. Agency representatives are keenly aware of the needs and challenges faced by families, yet grapple with being effective collaborators with families of widely varying priorities and styles of care and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]