Verna is a hot-headed ex-cop, ex-drug trafficker, and ex-prison inmate who has cleverly evaded laws against hoarding by arguing that her hoard was her artistic expression. But now Verna, who has diabetes, is hospitalized, and the hospital refuses to let her return home unless it’s cleaned up. Joanne’s house has gone from immaculate showplace to garbage pit. Yet despite the filth, she’s been the daytime caretaker for her six-year-old grandson. Joanne’s sister-in-law is so upset about the situation that she’s threatening to call adult protective services if the house isn’t cleaned up immediately.
Paramedics rushing to save a woman's life lose precious time when they're forced to climb over the hoard they find in Norman's house. Officials on the scene immediately call the Fire Chief and the Fire Marshall because the home presents a huge fire hazard to the neighborhood. Within an hour of being told his girlfriend is dead, the property is crawling with city officials and the house is condemned. Norman is given 30 days to clean up, or he could lose his house forever. Ever since Linda's husband died ten years ago, she has been adding to a hoard that has now spiraled out of control. Her two grown sons living with her do nothing about it either and each family member blames the other for not cleaning--causing a toxic three-way in the house. If Linda doesn't get help with the hoarding so she can recuperate and rehab from her future surgery, her sister is threatening to report her to the authorities and will have her own sister "shut-down."