Bedbug infestation treated at senior community

Work is underway to cleanup a Desert Hot Springs senior community with a bed bug infestation. However, residents worry it’s not going to be enough.

We first told you about the problem this week and showed you the evidence with residents suffering bites all over their bodies.

Now work is underway to cleanup the problem, but residents worry it’s not going to be enough.

“I’m bit on my arms, my neck my legs, started biting me on my face,” said resident Greg Powell.

Powell still has the marks to prove just how bad the bed bug infestation got at Linda Vista Senior Residences.

“People don’t want to even come see me any more. I had a friend with a few kids and spent the night, bumps all over,” said Kim Johnson.

“It’s real bad real bad,” said Sammie Brown.

Now the clean up has begun. We found Redline Pest Control treating the infected apartments Friday morning. In two weeks, the company tells us there will be a second treatment, then a followup check two weeks after that.

“They are working on it. Hopefully they are going to do something good for us,” said Brown.

Residents, many of whom are disabled, had wait outside while crews worked though food and entertainment were provided.

“They went and washed our clothes yesterday, so we got everything scattered around in our apartment and they’ve been taking all of the furniture out,” said Brown.

Couches, tables, TVs, everything infested was thrown away in the trash.

“I am throwing away stuff that I don’t have money to replace,” said Johnson.

The management company for the community, Solari Enterprises, Inc told me over the phone, that in addition to helping residents pack up and get their belonging ready for the fumigation, they will be replacing some of their furniture based on need.

Our cameras caught staff bringing in two new mattresses, but some residents say it’s not enough.

“They lost a lot of stuff they own, we are throwing away clothes, furniture beds, blankets, all the linens,” said Powell.

“We are throwing beds and stuff out of our house and we should get some kid of money back to pay for it,” said Brown.

We’ve learned the three-day notice sent out to residents telling them they face eviction if they don’t comply, maybe illegal. The city of Desert Hot Springs is now investigating. The City has cited the management company for code violations and is working with several government and non-profit agencies to improve living conditions.

Residents say the help can’t come soon enough.

“I respect they are trying but that’s all they are doing is trying,” said Johnson.