Texas Housing Authority Battling Bed Bugs

Austin’s housing authority has spent nearly $40,000 over the past year to combat bedbugs in 15 of its 19 facilities.

Sylvia Blanco of the agency told the Austin American-Statesman that the authority has been treating the insects since September 2010. Over the past year, 166 of its 1,928 units have been treated for bedbugs.

Bedbug infestations recently have increased across the country. Austin Travis Integral Care has spent $14,000 over the past year to fight the bugs in seven of its 46 properties for people with mental illness.

Even extensive treatments may not work. The Fort Worth Housing Authority spent hundreds of thousands of dollars battling bedbugs in one apartment complex in 2010 but still was forced to close the building. More than 200 residents had to move.