Wauwatosa health officials outline rise in human health-hazard and hoarding cases; call for more services

Wauwatosa Health Department officials reported an increase in human health-hazard (HHH) cases, including hoarding and severe self-neglect, and asked the committee for continued support for social work and home-repair resources.

Health Department Director Laura Stevens told the committee the department enforces human-health-hazard provisions in municipal code chapter 8.1 and can order cleanup, placard properties unfit for habitation, or seek a special inspection warrant in extreme cases. Stevens said the department’s aim is voluntary compliance but that some situations require lengthy interventions.

Public health manager Megan Bridal Spritaman described the inspection process and thresholds for intervention. She said the department focuses on life-safety issues: blocked exits and egress, lack of running water or electricity, pest infestations, human waste in living areas, excessive fire loads from accumulated combustibles, and unsafe numbers/conditions of pets. "When we get involved, our goal isn't necessarily enforcement or citations. It's usually problem solving," Bridal Spritaman said. Inspections use a uniform checklist provided by the state Department of Health Services.

Kendall Walter, the department’s social worker shared with police and fire, described case management work: building trust with residents, coordinating repeated visits, connecting families to county services, and pursuing adult protective- services or corporate guardianship when someone lacks capacity. Walter said some cases the department opened in 2022 closed in 2023 after a year-long court process; others remain active for months or years. She said, "a lot of these people have mental health issues or things like dementia..." and emphasized that addressing root causes is critical to prevent recurrence.

Scale, resources and risk: Stevens said the department had opened four unique HHH cases so far in 2025 and has seen an increase in referrals from police, fire and community members. The presenters said cleanup quotes can reach upward of $30,000 and that funding is a frequent barrier. Bedrock services that help treat hoarding — including specialized hoarding treatment programs — are limited; Catholic Charities was identified as a regional provider with multi-year wait lists.

Fire-safety implications: Presenters and staff said hoarding raises fire risk, increases danger to emergency responders and neighbors, and complicates emergency removal after falls. Stevens cited a recent out-of-state firefighter fatality in a cluttered-apartment fire as an example of the hazard faced by first responders.

Staff requests and next steps: Presenters asked the committee to continue referrals to the Wauwatosa Home Rehabilitation Program and to support funding for home repair and social-work capacity. The committee heard that Kendall Walter’s position is currently ARPA-funded through the end of 2026 and that environmental-health staff capacity is near its limit. There were no formal votes; several alders praised the department’s work and urged outreach to residents and families when cases take extended time to resolve.