Pests have taken over this TCHC building in East York, but residents are fighting back

WARNING: This story contains some graphic images showing pests

A group of Toronto Community Housing residents in East York say they're fed up with living with rodents and bugs, and they're demanding the social housing agency tackle the problem.

Housing advocacy group ACORN launched a campaign earlier this month to highlight tenant complaints about pest infestations at 444 Lumsden Ave. that have been ongoing for years.

"We're frustrated with TCHC not doing their jobs. Especially when it comes to all the pests that we got - mice, rats, bedbugs, cockroaches," building resident and ACORN member Kelly Lalande said in a press release. 

"They should mandate a bi-annual inspection, but not just within the common areas," she said. "Conduct inspections in the units." 

In a statement, TCHC spokesperson Kim Moser told CBC Toronto that the agency already makes regular pest control visits to treat individual units. She said the agency inspects all common areas weekly.

"The health, safety and well-being of tenants is a top priority for TCHC," said Moser, adding that staff are working with the tenants and ACORN to address bed bug concerns. 

It's not the first time residents of the building have experienced problems. In an interview, Lalande told CBC Toronto that the pest issue has been ongoing "for years." 

The city-run agency maintains the issues are not related to the city's financial problems. Toronto is facing a $1.5 billion budget shortfall this year and has already taken steps to close that gap by increasing some taxes and fees. Budget documents released this week also revealed a state of good repair backlog that's expected to grow from $10.6 billion to $22.7 billion by 2033.

Citywide, pest control agents preventatively treat common areas on a monthly basis and make weekly visits to tenants who need help, Moser said, noting that treatments are only done once a tenant has OK'd a unit visit.

TCHC "has a designated day during the week for treatments," according to Moser, who said "all units surrounding the impacted unit are treated as a preventative measure." 

But Lumsden residents say more needs to be done now.

Residents showed CBC Toronto pictures of bedbug infestations and cockroaches, as well as evidence of rodents — even maggots.

Twenty-year resident Sharron MacPherson, 80, said she's seen "dozens" of bedbugs on hallway walls beside an infested apartment on her floor whose residents moved out last June.