Tenants Fight Yearlong Battle with Cockroach Infestation in Fall River Low-Income Housing
Residents of Mitchell Heights Apartments, a low-income housing facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, have been struggling with a persistent cockroach infestation for at least a year. Despite their pleas for action, the problem has yet to be resolved, leaving tenants frustrated and concerned about their living conditions.
Several tenants, fearing retaliation, chose to remain anonymous but shared their disturbing experiences with the cockroach infestation. One resident, who has been living in Mitchell Heights for five years, recalled witnessing the pests crawling around his light fixture and coming through the holes in the walls. He has had to kill countless cockroaches under his kitchen sink and on his counters. Another tenant discovered a cockroach in his Chinese take-out, resulting in wasted food and financial loss. The stories go on, with residents recounting encounters with these unwanted intruders in various areas of their homes.
Linda P., one of the tenants affected, welcomed a reporter into her apartment to witness the ongoing battle against the pests. Her kitchen table was covered in sheets, protecting her food, dishes, and other belongings during regular extermination treatments. She pointed out several cockroach traps that had been laid down just two days prior, all containing the remains of the insects. Linda P. even found a cockroach on her pillow while getting ready for bed.
The tenants claim that the cockroaches are not confined solely to their individual units but also infest the communal areas where they gather. They emerge from mailboxes, and one tenant, who plays the piano in the communal area, stated that they even come out of the instrument itself. Hauntingly, dead roaches can be found scattered in the hallway, with one tenant pointing out a large one on a white shirt.
The Fall River Housing Authority, responsible for the maintenance of Mitchell Heights, has received complaints from the tenants but has been slow to take effective action. City Building Inspector Glenn Hathaway expressed concern over the extent of the problem but emphasized that some tenants were not cooperating with preparations for extermination, hindering the overall progress.
In response to the mounting pressure, the Housing Authority plans to treat more areas of Mitchell Heights where the cockroaches tend to congregate, ensuring they reach hiding spots between floors and crevices. A meeting has been scheduled between residents, the Housing Authority, and the extermination company to address the ongoing issue.
The tenants are hopeful that their living conditions will improve with the increased efforts, as outlined by Hathaway. They emphasize that the Housing Authority’s promise of providing a safe and sanitary living environment needs to be upheld. The residents of Mitchell Heights deserve relief from the distress caused by this yearlong infestation, and they anticipate the immediate action necessary to restore their homes to a pest-free state.
