Dear Eric: I have a huge dilemma literally right across from our home. Our neighbor is a very nice man. Sometimes I do ask him what he’s going to do with all of his stuff in his yard. He just says he’ll keep it. He is a hoarder.
What I see is boxes and boxes stacked all along his driveway, down to his backyard, leaving a very narrow pathway to cars, also along the driveway. You can barely see his house due to all the grown trees and shrubs.
My deepest worry is fire.
I know if I call an authority on him, he will know it was me. Please, advise.
– Worried Neighbor
Dear Neighbor: Fire is indeed a concern in homes maintained by people with hoarding tendencies. Blocked entrances and exits endanger not only the residents of the home, but firefighters and first responders. This is why, as you indicate you’re aware, many emergency response departments have people trained at hoarding intervention.
What’s the greater danger here: that he suspects you’re the person who called and asked that someone make a wellness visit to his home, or that he or someone else is injured or killed should the unthinkable happen. I say make the call and then leave it to the authorities.
It’s also possible that any passing car could notice the state of the house and make a call, as could the neighbors on either side of him, whose houses would be in even more immediate danger in the event of a fire.
After making the call, however, it’s advisable to take a step back, unpleasant as the sight may be. We can’t dictate what neighbors put on their property. Beyond offering help, further conversation with him about his belongings is overstepping.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.
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