Abstract
A preliminary survey of local Age Concerns and district and city councils (Territorial Authorities or TAs) suggests that people living in severe domestic squalor exist throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. There are significant health risks for these individuals as well as risks for those they live with, their carers, their visitors, their neighbours, and their pets. Respondents ranked having a lead agency that coordinates a multi-agency response and having a budget for cleaning homes as the most important suggestions for helping these people in their area.