Bed bug situation not over just yet – The North Bay Nugget

Heat and chemical treatments to eliminate the bed bugs at the Golden Age Towers are ongoing.

District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board received an update from the housing department during Wednesdays committee meetings at city hall.

The Edgewater Apartment building, at 365 Lakeshore Drive, is now considered bed-bug free, but there are still units at the Golden Age Towers on Worthington Street W. with infestation problems.

One of the units is being treated by heat and the other is undergoing a chemical treatment.

The board also heard there are two family units in the citys housing bank also being treated for bed bugs. The family units werent identified.

DNSSAB chairman Mark King said dealing with the bed bug situation has been a long process.

Its an unfortunate event that has taken place, he said, adding its difficult to get a grasp on the situation because of the number of tenants coming and going.

You really never know what people are bringing in.

King said when news broke of the situation there was a lot of concern amongst the public.

At one point, tenants at the Golden Age Towers told The Nugget there were at least 30 of the 106 units with bed bugs.

Tenants said they faced discrimination after the news became public. They were denied delivery service by food drivers who refused to go into the building for fear of being infested.

The hair salon inside Golden Age Towers also faced a loss in business as people started to cancel appointments.

Several residents were extremely frustrated with the situation. One tenant said the bugs were everywhere in her apartment and were coming in through the electrical outlets. It was so bad she said she was ready to commit suicide because she couldnt handle it anymore.

DNSSABs housing department assessed the situation by hiring sniffer dogs to identify which apartments were infested. Housing staff held meetings and spoke to tenants about the importance of letting them know as soon as they believe they have found a bed bug.

Tenants have also expressed frustration and concern that they will get them again.

Lana Mitchell, executive director for Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing (LIPI) raised the issue last year during a presentation to DNSSAB.

She said the situation is so bad clients were coming into her office with bed bugs on them and others have been bitten so bad its impossible not to notice the damage to their skin.

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Bed bug situation not over just yet - The North Bay Nugget