Bed Bugs Force Family Out Of Home

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Posted: 11:11 PM Aug 1, 2008
Last Updated: 12:46 AM Aug 2, 2008
Reporter: Janet Kim
Email Address: janet.kim@wkyt.com

24 comments

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Some families who live in a Frankfort neighborhood are out of their homes because of bed bugs. Several homes on Rosewood Drive in Frankfort are infested with the insects. The Public Housing Authority, which owns the homes, are trying to exterminate the bugs, but not everyone is happy with how they're doing it.

Dene Jackson says her daughter lost nearly all her belongings due to a bed bug infestation at her housing unit.

"They went into my daughter's home and they took everything she owns, " says Jackson. "I mean they took their food out of the refrigerator, frozen food, all of my grandbaby's clothes, her toys. "

The Housing Authority of Frankfort is spraying several of its homes for bed bugs, leaving people who live there out for at least 72 hours. The executive director says an infestation can get so severe that removing all items are necessary.

"We have to replace the stoves, refrigerators," says Carole Anthony, the Housing Authority of Frankfort Executive Director. "We have to take the base boards out, and so we pretty much have to have the apartments cleaned out because if that bad, they're hiding in anything that's there."

The housing authority says residents were given a chance to remove items and will be responsible for spraying and clean up, an estimated $500 to $600.

But Jackson says that's just not fair.

"This is low income housing, how are they suppose to pay," asks Jackson.

The housing authority says it will make payment plans available.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: YUCK Location: Lexington on Aug 26, 2008 at 07:56 AM
I am disabled and live in handicapped housing, not by choice, but by need. I was mortified when the Health Dept. came to my door to ask if I have bed bugs. I have checked everywhere and can't find even a spider, but have taken action to keep from getting them. Not all people that live in low income housing are dirty. You narrow-minded idiots that are running everyone down because of some of the people. I worked for thirty years with spina bifida. I am now paralized and unable to work. Look what my government has done for me! My only option is the bug infested nasty areas because I am under the age limit of 55 to live in some of the nicer facilities. Get a grip people!

Posted by: gail Location: frenchburg on Aug 5, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Nothing wrong with needing a little help and assistance in your life. The shame comes in not taking the help and getting yourself in a better place in time. It should be a regulation that if you are in public housing you are subject to and receive by monthly visits from the housing authorities to make sure you are keeping your home clean an that means to keeping your dishes washed, beds changed, children clean, dishes done, and your refrigerator and stove spotless. This will help keep any type of "Bug" infestation down to a minimum. It is a fact that there will always be people in need but it doesn't always have to remain a fact that these people are allowed to remain nasty. If they are inspected by monthly it would be less expense to tax payers as if the party isn't holding up their end of the bargin they can be kicked out of the public housing to keep things like this from happening. It would cost less in the long run!

Posted by: Ignorance At it's Best! Location: Richmond on Aug 5, 2008 at 04:39 AM
Some of you folks are so disappointing. I really hope none of you ever are unfortunate enough to fall on hard times or experience a foreclosure on your homes. Cause then you'll be one of the "dirty" people living on public assistance. Please, before you speak against something KNOW what your talking about. Not all the people receiving assistance are bad people. Some are the nicest, cleanest people you will ever meet. People that would be kind enough to take you in, feed and clothe you if that was what you needed. Shame on all of you for stereotyping.

Posted by: Aggrevated Location: Lexington on Aug 4, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Get a job people and you will not have to live in Low income housing!!! Then you would not have bed bugs or roaches unless you are just nasty than you may still have them. Sorry, just venting.... I am sick of taking care of lazy people and paying to feed them and clean up their mess and bugs.

Posted by: Toe/Jam Location: Lex on Aug 4, 2008 at 11:42 AM
This problem has been on Campus here in Lexington for several years now and they can't get rid of them. Don't you just love Student Housing!eeewwwwwwww!!!!!!

Posted by: Barak on Aug 4, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Vote for Barak and there will be more bed bugs than ever! I give everyone who DOESN'T want to work a place to stay and lots of money they can use to buy drugs and whatever else they want but hey cannot use it for their kids. Socialism at its finest people...a vote for Barak is a vote for the bed bugs. What war? We have a war going on?

Posted by: PAUL Location: LEX on Aug 3, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Some of you make me feel guilty for being a native, get a clue

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 3, 2008 at 07:45 PM
My point is that you do not get to pick and choose where your tax dollars go. You complain about public housing. I complain about a war I feel is being fought for the wrong reasons. At least there are a few sensible comments on here, although bed bugs are not spread by bats. And to Mike, OINK! If you feel the war is a worthy effort, then by all means vote for those that wish to continue it indefinitely. And Zatoichi, where did the 9/11 terrorists come from? It certainly wasn't Iraq. Saudi Arabia, anyone?

Posted by: KentuckyGuy Location: Bluegrass on Aug 3, 2008 at 05:33 PM
The bed bugs have barricaded themselves in the homes and SWAT has been called.

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on Aug 3, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Anonymous, perhaps you would rather have those bed bugs we are exterminating in Iraq over here? We either exterminate them in their own filth or we get infested in our home.

Posted by: D Location: Georgetown on Aug 3, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Dirtbags attract things like this... this isnt news people!

Posted by: David G. Location: Eastern Ky on Aug 3, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Folks, don't be too quick to put down or think lowly of people who have acquired bed bugs. I worked for ORKIN from 1987 to 1994. I have my own LPCO license now. Bed bugs are usually acquired at hotels and motels, not usually your neighbors house. This includes other icky things too. I have had to treat (franchise owning)well known motels and hotels from bed bugs to lice and roaches, and even fleas. This is more common than most of you would ever suspect. Check into a $150.00 franchise motel and leave with lice. Hey! the next time you plan to check into a motel take a small black light with you. Turn off the lights and wave it over the top quilt of the bed. Try not to vomit. They never wash them. They just replace them when necessary. This was always a bed bug argument with them. You need to was bed linen at 180 degrees to kill bed bugs and their eggs, this includes lice to. Most refused to wash the quilts because of the cost of detergent. BEWARE TRAELERS!

Posted by: ICE Cold Location: Kentucky on Aug 3, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Well central Kentucky has been welcoming illegal immigrants with open arms for the past several years. Hope you are happy now! ¡Luz del sueño, la mordedura de los gringos!

Posted by: entomologist Location: Lexington on Aug 3, 2008 at 12:55 PM
One of the worst things is buying or picking up used matresses and furniture (like at thrift shops, yard sales, or along the curb). Not to say you shouldn't buy used or recycled clothes, just make sure to dry them in a dryer (heat kills them) immediately. As far as what chemicals kill them, few.

Posted by: james Location: salyersville on Aug 3, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Bad rap on the bug! He is a bed bug..not a stove and refrigerator bug...that sounds like roaches and a a cheap way for management to make residents pay for what management is supposed to pay for in keeping infestation under control to begin with!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on Aug 3, 2008 at 06:20 AM
Yes I did catch that part. It is good that they have to help pay for it and why not? As a home owner myself I have to pay for everything without any help from hard working tax payers. They (the residents) created this mess, therefore they should pay not us (tax payers). I totally agree with Charles M, Fred and Anon, live in filth and this is the end result.

Posted by: caroline Location: bingham on Aug 2, 2008 at 10:44 PM
i think that the dog is absolutly adorable. it looks like a chauiua.i think that if i had that many bed bugs i would check and make sure we were all right you know. it is just horrible for someone to miss treat kids or elderly people. they need took out and mistreat them and then throw them in jail. gas is rediculious. If you kill somebody you broke one of the 10 commandments thou shalt not kill. me now i would not dare kill anybody because i wanna be with the father the son and the holy spirit.

Posted by: Bender Location: Lexington on Aug 2, 2008 at 10:13 PM
You have to try to kill these things with "The Noisy Cricket." Didn't you see "Men In Black?"

Posted by: bluebell Location: east on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:01 PM
You can bring these things home from vacations, staying with friend. Hotels, cruiseships you name it. Rich people get them too. They are very invasisve bugs. Everything in the home has to come out incliding carpet. Dateline did a story a few years ago, now when I go on vacation I check the mattress this is were they like to hide in the seams and chairs before I bring my luggage into the room. No you donot have to be nasty. Smile GOD loves you mean people too. Have a nice day.

Posted by: Hannah Location: TN on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Bedbugs are not just a social bug. Clean houses ca get them also. These tiny bugs are carried by bats. There must be a high number of them in Frankfort.

Posted by: Mike Location: Florence on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Hey Anonymous don't be ashamed tell your name. A stupid War? Thats your opinion! I happen to think the war is a worthy effort both in Iraq and Afghanistan. As for the Bed Bugs, it's simple. Don't buy used furniture, clean your house, and you probally will never see one. Since the housing is public housing of course tax payers have to foot the bill. But we should never make excuses for bad behavior. Public housing is not meant to be ones last stop in the housing market. It's like any other type of public assistance. Only the old and disabled should ever stay permanently in public housing. Everyone else should be there just temporarily until they better themselves. I am tired of supporting any type of permanent welfare. These young kids without jobs need to join the military. This way they gain self respect, good job skills and discipline. But that makes to much since to the liberal swine in this country. Good Day!

Posted by: Charles M. Location: Lexington on Aug 2, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Bed bugs don't just come across the border , nor they native to low rent housing, they thrive in homes where there is little or no laundry being done. Do the laundry on a regular basis and take baths on a regular basis and you probably will never see one. If you furnish a good place for them to live, they will.

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Aug 2, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Live in filth - attract insects. Simple logic.

Posted by: Anon Location: Lex on Aug 2, 2008 at 01:38 PM
Maybe if the people tryed washing their bed sheets and keeping themselves clean they wouldnt have had this major infestation.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 2, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Hey Anonymous, did you catch the part about the residents being repsonsible for spraying and clean up? I would rather my tax dollars go toward public housing than the stupid war!!

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on Aug 2, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Sleep tight.

Posted by: Goebel Location: Lexington on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Did these bugs come across the border and are illegal.

Posted by: ? Location: Ky on Aug 2, 2008 at 07:59 AM
How can ANYONE live with these repulsive things in their home let alone infested with them. Makes my skin crawl! They look like roaches.From the sound of them they are just as hard to get rid of.What kind of spray kills them?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on Aug 2, 2008 at 05:23 AM
Nasty. I guess you really can't complain too much though because at least the tax payers are paying for it.... along with your reduced rent, utilities, etc. Get out of public housing and perhaps you won't have to deal with such nasty things.