Omaha Housing Authority examines tenants’ issues about bug infestation

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Tenants in a senior living complex in north Omaha called Evans Tower are fed up with their living conditions.

Saturday, January 14, 2023 4:12 PM CST

Courtesy: WOWT Channel 6

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) — Tenants at a senior living complex in north Omaha called Evans Tower are fed up with their living conditions.

Evans Tower is a complex with the Omaha Housing Authority.

Our partners at 6 News have been told that there is an infestation of bed bugs, along with water and heating issues.

Frustrated and angry isn’t enough to describe how Demetria Harrison feels about what she thinks is going on at Evans Tower.

“They’re older and shouldn’t be treated that way,” Harrison said.

On Tuesday, she received a call from her sisters that her 79-year-old father had been taken to the hospital.

Harrison then rushed to Omaha from her home in Georgia. She said her father was not well. He has developed rashes and can’t stop itching his skin.

“We had received some documentation showing that he had parasites that identify as bed bugs,” Harrison said.

She has been cleaning his apartment for the past few days and she said she found cockroaches, bed bugs and termites on the carpet.

Not only that, Harrison said, other residents had complained that their water and heaters weren’t working. Harrison said they raised this with management.

“The first thing the management that was there says, well, just go,” Harrison said.

Our partners at 6 News spoke to the Omaha Housing Authority, who oversee the property. They told them they were taking action.

“We received the complaint on Wednesday and our staff were there that same day,” said Joanie Poore, OHA’s executive officer. “If we have a known bed bug situation, we treat it in this unit at least every two weeks.”

The Omaha Housing Authority plans to complete water and heating repairs to needy tenants by Jan. 17.