Debbie-
I am sorry to hear about your situation. I work in RI and MA with compulsive hoarders, but cannot force your mother into compliance. You cannot deal with the city of Providence. They do not have the authority to intervene on your behalf. In RI, APS (Adult Protective Services) is a division of DCYF and is a state agency. You can find them on the web. There is a hoarding program at Butler Hospital for hoarding disorders, as well.
If you would like to call me, please feel free to do so and I can provide you with some more direction. I am listed here on the site if you click on Rhode Island. Or, you can find me at njdespres
I know first hand how frustrating it is to have your hoarding family member several states away, and to feel helpless. We are here if you need us.

Hi Debbie,
I am very surprised to hear that the authorities are ignoring this. My question to you is, will she accept help? Does she want to clean her residence? Is she of sound mind or do you need to get power of attorney? If you could, then you could have her place cleaned. If she wants to get help, but just can't do it herself there are a lot of companies listed on here that can assist her. I would try calling Adult Protective Services again, or the local code enforcement, but remember they may evict her and it may further traumatize her. I only say to do this when the home is extrememly dangerous. She needs to get into therapy to treat this and the other disorders she most likely has which only make this worse. It is hard when you are far away and it sounds like you already have your plate full.

Hi, my mother is 70 years old, she rents a house in providence rhode island and she gets section 8. Her house is full of junk and she also has a storage unit that she pays for monthy now for 13 years or more she had 2 until we helped empty one of them 5 years ago. My name is debbie her daughter and I live in Iowa since 1994, everytime I go back I USUALLy end up cleaning. The last time we went back was october of last year,,I would not go to her house because of the bugs. I am also disabled i have had surgery on my neck and waiting to have surgery on my lower back.. I cannot help her no more!!She needs help from an organization near by. And also when section 8 goes into the house they pass it even though they see the cockroaches, where is eldery affairs I have called providence elderly affairs a number of times that dont do a thing.... What are they there for???? Last winter she was freezing she had no money for fuel, she ended up in the hospital.
She need help can someone help. Please this has to end, and that landlord also needs to take care of his part. and the city of providence also needs to do their part, letting people live in bug infested apartments....