Squalor Survivors - Housing codes

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- Script Personal experience, with photos.
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Pictures Reasons to photograph squalor.
- Kimmy An introduction to Kimmy's photos.
  - Entry area Before and after photos.
  - Kitchen Before and after photos.
  - Living area Before and after photos.
  - Lounge Before and after photos.
  - Bathrooms Before and after photos.
  - Bedrooms Before and after photos.
  - Hallway Before and after photos.
  - Room off kitchen Before and after photos.
  - Storage room Before photo.
  - Dining Before photo.
  - Back kitchen Before photo.
  - Laundry After photo.
  - Zero degree After photo.
  - One year later Reflecting back on the first year anniversary of Kimmy's thread.
- Patkortcam An introduction to Patkortcam's photos.
  - Bedroom, view 1 Before and after photos.
  - Bedroom, view 2 Before and after photos.
  - Kitchen, view 1 Before and after photos.
  - Kitchen, view 2 Before and after photos.
  - Living room Before and after photos.
- Petra An introduction to Petra's photos.
  - Living room Before photos.
  - Kitchen Before photos.
  - Bathroom After photo.
  - Bedroom Before photos.
- Suedonym An introduction to Suedonym's photos.
  - Entry room Before and after photos.
  - Front room Before and after photos.
  - Living room Before and after photos.
  - Dining room Before and after photos.
  - Kitchen Before and after photos.
  - Bedroom 1 Before and after photos.
  - Bedroom 2 Before and after photos.
  - Master bedroom Before and after photos.
  - One year later Before and after photos.
- Joe Before photos.
Squalor What IS "squalor"?
- Measuring Measurement scales for quantifying your squalor, clutter, or hoarding.
- Hoarding 3-part definition and description of clinical hoarding.
- Contributing factors Clinical depression, Post-partum depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder; Physical factors, Behavioral and situational factors.
- Consequences The consequences of squalor to our self-esteem, our finances, our time, our enjoyment of our homes, our aspirations, our participation in society, our dealings with the legal system, and our health .
- Famous squalor Langley Collyer, Ida Mayfield Wood, Mr Trebus, Edith and Edie Bouvier Beale, Louis Bonard, Eliza Donnithorne, Quentin Crisp, Beethoven, Katie Holmes.
- Fictional squalor Pig Pen, Oscar from Sesame Street, Oscar Madison, Olive Madison, Cristina Yang, Momma Boone, Miss Havisham and Mrs Jellyby, the Seven Dwarves, the Cat in the Hat.
Overcoming
Yourself
- Self-worth
- Depression
- Perfectionism
- Demand-resistance
- Guilt
- Worry
- Indecision
- Goals
- Self-care
Your house
- Declutter
- Organize
- Clean
- Maintain
Special topics
Community
Resources Kimmy's original Living in Third Degree Squalor thread, available for free dwonload in Word, PDF, and plain text formats. Zipped versions available. Script's paper and finances page is also here as a downloadable document.
- Books A bibliography of useful works.
  - Organizing From the Inside Out review
  - The Messies Manual review
  - Living Organized review
  - Sink Reflections review
  - Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding review
  - Cut the Clutter and Stow the Stuff review
  - Is There Life After Housework? review
  - Clutter's Last Stand review
  - Speed Cleaning review
  - Sidetracked Home Executives review
  - Shelter For the Spirit review
  - Too Perfect review Dealing with perfectionism.
  - The Now Habit review Dealing with procrastination
- Software
  - Consistency review
  - Kirby Alarm and Task Scheduler review
  - Joe's Goals review Web-based application for tracking progress towards reaching your goals.
  - billQ review Web-based application for tracking your bills and their due dates.
- Web links Web sites, pages and mailing lists on organizing, decluttering, cleaning, and squalor.
Junk drawer
- Abecedary
- Cineplex
- The Loneliness of the Long Distance Squalorer
- In Flanders Fields Angelina Hedgehog recorded this poem as a .wav
- The Many Faces of Toni
- The Tales of the HouseReclaimer
- Squalor Glossary
- The Little Things
- How Messies Invented Ballet
- Lies and Truth
- Sesame Street, squalor & me
- Grief goes on
- Life Cycle of Magazines
- Your squalor is rejected
It's not me This is the page for people who coming here looking for answers to help a spouse, relative, or friend.
- Lisa A cautionary tale from a supporter who cleaned a hoarder's house without consent.
Site:
- About The history of the site, plus a PayPal button for those who wish to donate towards site costs.
- Purpose Statement and Community Participation Policies Why the site exists, and Pigpen's vision for it.
- Contact How to contact Pigpen.
- Privacy Privacy Policy
- Sitemap YOU ARE HERE.

Housing codes

The following information came from the presentation of "Tenants' Legal Rights and Responsibilities" at the 6 October 2004 "Hoarding and Cluttering: Solutions 2004" symposium sponsored by the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. This may give you an idea of what public health and safety officials will be assessing your house against, in the event of an inspection. Remember that laws and regulation will vary from state to state, and country to country.

Laws regarding condition of housing units

The relevant laws covered in the presentation were:

State [CA] Health and Safety Codes
Local municipal codes
Federal regulations for subsidized units and Section 8 voucher tenancies

California Health and Safety Code: Substandard building

Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents
Condition would cause a fire or provide ready fuel to augment the spread of fire
Accumulation of weeds, vegetation, junk, dead organic matter, debris, garbage, rodent harborages, combustible materials or conditions that constitute a fire, healthy or safety hazard
Space occupied for living, sleeping, cooking or dining purposes that were not designed or intended to be used for those occupancies

San Francisco & San Jose Municipal Codes: Nuisance

Any accumulation of filth, garbage, unsanitary debris or waste materials or decaying animal or vegetable matter
Any accumulation of waste paper, litter or combustible trash
Any unsanitary buildings or structures
Any pest harborages
Any food or drink which is tainted, decayed or spoiled
Any condition that would lead to or spread fire

San Francisco & San Jose Municipal Codes: Exits

All escape or rescue windows and doors from sleeping rooms shall have clear openings
Escape or rescue windows and doors shall not be obstructed [minimum 3 feet wide paths to/from]

Federal regulations: Housing quality standards

Dwelling and neighborhood cannot have excessive accumulation of trash or fire hazards
Dwelling must be in sanitary condition

Required conditions for housing units

Clear pathways to windows and doors [#1 safety requirement; EVERY door and window must have a minimum 3 feet wide path maintained at all times]
Nothing stacked over 6 feet
Clearance near sprinklers on ceiling
No decaying food or other garbage [to attract vermin]
No flammable items near heater or stove [#1 Fire Department concern]
No conditions to cause or spread fires
No amateur wiring
Clearance near and access to electrical outlets
Spaces used for their designed purposes [specific language used in San Francisco codes]