VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A 73-year-old Canadian woman is facing eviction from her social housing apartment in Vancouver because she's a hoarder.
The organization in charge of the building where Sharon Jelden lives claims the woman poses a danger to other tenants and is evicting her, effective at the end of January, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Jelden's apartment is filled with items she has collected since she moved in nine years ago.
"I still love these things and they are important," she said.
A document from the Vancouver Native Housing Society states Jelden "seriously jeopardized the health or safety of another occupant or the landlord … caused extraordinary damage to the unit" and "put the landlord's property at significant risk."
Some of Jelden's neighbors support her fight to stay put.
"You don't kick a person out because [they] have a mental problem," said neighbor Michel Provost.
A local pastor who counsels hoarders agreed that eviction is not the answer.
"We take draconian action with these people," said the Rev. Don Collett. "It's not the solution."
Jelden has filed an appeal with British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Branch, scheduled to be heard Jan. 30.
The 73-year-old woman said she is unsure of what will happen to her if she loses the appeal.
"I suppose I'd end up on the street, I don't know," she said.
