Ongoing bed bug issue at a Timmins apartment building is 'like living in hell'

A battle with bed bugs continues at 217 Pine St. North in Timmins, according to a tenant who has lived there for a year and a half.

Robert Joseph spoke with CTV News in August when he was hopeful the Cochrane District Services Board, which owns the building, would fix the problem.

However, Joseph said he’s still not able to sleep at night and he wishes he never moved into the building.

"I am experiencing field mouses running around in the hallways, bed bugs," he said.

"I don't know where they're coming from or who's bringing them in and it's a nightmare, like I'm in hell.”

Joseph said he’s on a waiting list to relocate to another town, but said he won’t be allowed to bring his furniture with him because the bed bugs could hitch a ride.

"I’m crying at nighttime and my kids told me to get out and get away from here and go back home to Kap or Cochrane," he said.

Joseph said he’s called Cochrane District Services hundreds of times about the issue, but no one calls him back.

"I’m trying to get the word out but nobody wants to listen to seniors or old people anymore."

Officials with Cochrane District Services Board said they’re doing the best they can to address the problem.

"I don't want people to think that we take their concerns lightly," said Brian Marks, CAO of the Cochrane District Services Board.

CTV News spoke with Robert Joseph, a tenant at 217 Pine St. North, in August and he said the battle with bed bugs at this building continues. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"Quality of life is critical and, you know, not being able to sleep well at night because you do have a pest in your unit is nothing to be taken lightly and we take it seriously. And I can say that our operating staff and, our pest control contractor are taking this seriously."

The board said four treatments at the building in four months is an "aggressive" plan to take care of the issue and that another treatment will take place in early December.

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"So in terms of being under control, one would hope that for treatments that include steam and chemical, that that it would be under control," said Marks.

He said free mattress and box spring covers are given to all impacted tenants and laundry facilities are provided at no cost to them.

The Board also said efforts to increase education and knowledge about bed bugs have been ongoing, as some people who experience mental health challenges require extra support.