Geumcheon-gu's "Clean Care for the Vulnerable" project in Seoul. [Provided by Geumcheon-gu]
Geumcheon-gu's "Clean Care for the Vulnerable" project in Seoul. [Provided by Geumcheon-gu]

Seoul's Geumcheon-gu announced Saturday it will launch the "Clean Care for the Vulnerable" project to improve living conditions for households suspected of hoarding disorder and other vulnerable residents. Hoarding disorder is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which a person cannot discard unused items and accumulates them instead.

The project uses professional cleaning and waste-removal companies to provide tailored environmental improvements — including waste collection, tidying and cleaning, and pest control and disinfection — to households identified as needing help. Target households are identified and referred through case management conducted by welfare planners.

Geumcheon-gu enacted an ordinance in 2021 to support households suspected of hoarding disorder, establishing a standing assistance framework. Since last year, the district has expanded its "Clean Care" program — a welfare-and-cleaning collaboration — and secured both public and private funding.

Last year, the district used private funding and specialist personnel to support residential environment improvements for four households. This year, it plans to expand coverage to 20 households after securing 20 million won ($13,500) in private funding.


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