By Wendy Winiewski
Reporter Global New
SASKATOON – With blood stained pillow cases and bedding, the peace and comfort of a good night’s rest is non-existent for Allan Moore. Dealing with relationship issues a couple years ago, Moore moved from his home to The Lighthouse Supported Living.
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He’s been dealing with bed bugs ever since.
“If you feel any movement on your body, you’re agitated immediately. You sit up, turn on the light, and look for them,” said Moore Wednesday afternoon outside the Sturdy Stone Centre on 22nd Street .
Moore’s claim is being heard by the Office of Residential Tenancies in Saskatoon. The hearing was adjourned Wednesday and has been rescheduled for Dec. 11. He wasn’t aware of the bed bug problem prior to moving in.
“Precautions at The Lighthouse, there are no notices or anything up on the wall saying it’s a bug infested building.”
Moore has replaced furniture, bedding and had his wrist recast after bed bugs claimed his previous one as a home. Alleged damages amount to $3,900.
Lawyer Trevor Oleniuk with Classic Inc. is representing Moore.
“Our position is that this type of claim amounts to a breach of the tenant’s rights to quiet enjoyment of having the unit free of any pests and things like that,” said Oleniuk.
By law, full disclosure of pre-existing issues must be given to potential tenants. According to Oleniuk, bed bugs would fall under this. The Lighthouse admits to and is constantly treating the problem.
“We try to house the hardest to house in our community and the people who have experienced homelessness or have been transient in the past,” said Communications Director DeeAnn Mercier.
“With that target population, sometimes there are issues, such as bed bugs.”
Darwin Micha is a tenant at The Lighthouse. Micha said the bed bug problem has recently improved.
“I’m homeless so I’d rather sleep with bed bugs than sleep outside,” said Micha.
It’s a line of thinking Moore said is common among residents of The Lighthouse, but believes tenants shouldn’t have to choose one or the other.
Moore is striving to be a representative voice in hopes of more proactive and consistent treatment when these situations arise.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the two sides were encouraged to settle the dispute on their own before to the next hearing. Moore has no intention of doing so, rather choosing to be a voice for the people.
www.prochempestsolutions.com
Monday, December 29, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Muskogee Public Schools Develop New Bed Bug Policy
Tony Russell, News On 6
BioEmail
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma - Muskogee parents are being warned to check their children for bed bugs Friday night. Crews quickly cleaned and sanitized a classroom after a teacher found one of the bugs crawling on a student.
Muskogee Public Schools calls it an isolated incident, but parents were warned to check their children for bed bugs.
The district said they are taking the situation seriously and even developed a new bed bug policy.
"Just because somebody had a bug crawling on their clothes doesn't mean they have an infestation, so we want people to remember that," said Wendy Burton with Muskogee Public Schools.
She said administrators at Pershing Elementary found a bed bug on a student; and just like any case where a student shows lice, they took measures to clean the classroom.
"We just don't want people to panic, but we do want them to be aware so they'll take preventative measures at home, check things out at home and things like that," Burton said.
The Oklahoma Health Department said parents shouldn't be alarmed, but should take steps to sanitize backpacks and wash clothes.
"Bed bugs don't live long off the body; basically they come like head lice, they cause no disease or illness, they're just a nuisance," said Oklahoma Department of Health District Nurse Manager Joyce Walker.
"This is not a new epidemic or something; bed bugs have been here for quite a spell. They've been in the hotels, they've been everywhere, and so people just need to be knowledgeable about their transmission, how to get rid of them, what to look for," she said.
All 14 school principals in the Muskogee school district met at headquarters to talk about a new bed bug protocol and how to respond if they have any future incidents.
"If we have another report that there might be another bed bug in a classroom, of course they'll come right out and inspect. He can set monitors to trap them at night when no one's there and that way, if he catches a few bed bugs, then we know we have a big problem and we can immediately address it," Burton said.
The school district doesn't believe any students are at risk, but they have gone the extra step and purchased additional equipment if they have to eradicate anymore bed bugs.
www.prochempestsolutions.com
BioEmail
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma - Muskogee parents are being warned to check their children for bed bugs Friday night. Crews quickly cleaned and sanitized a classroom after a teacher found one of the bugs crawling on a student.
Muskogee Public Schools calls it an isolated incident, but parents were warned to check their children for bed bugs.
The district said they are taking the situation seriously and even developed a new bed bug policy.
"Just because somebody had a bug crawling on their clothes doesn't mean they have an infestation, so we want people to remember that," said Wendy Burton with Muskogee Public Schools.
She said administrators at Pershing Elementary found a bed bug on a student; and just like any case where a student shows lice, they took measures to clean the classroom.
"We just don't want people to panic, but we do want them to be aware so they'll take preventative measures at home, check things out at home and things like that," Burton said.
The Oklahoma Health Department said parents shouldn't be alarmed, but should take steps to sanitize backpacks and wash clothes.
"Bed bugs don't live long off the body; basically they come like head lice, they cause no disease or illness, they're just a nuisance," said Oklahoma Department of Health District Nurse Manager Joyce Walker.
"This is not a new epidemic or something; bed bugs have been here for quite a spell. They've been in the hotels, they've been everywhere, and so people just need to be knowledgeable about their transmission, how to get rid of them, what to look for," she said.
All 14 school principals in the Muskogee school district met at headquarters to talk about a new bed bug protocol and how to respond if they have any future incidents.
"If we have another report that there might be another bed bug in a classroom, of course they'll come right out and inspect. He can set monitors to trap them at night when no one's there and that way, if he catches a few bed bugs, then we know we have a big problem and we can immediately address it," Burton said.
The school district doesn't believe any students are at risk, but they have gone the extra step and purchased additional equipment if they have to eradicate anymore bed bugs.
www.prochempestsolutions.com
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