1. Bed Bugs: A Municipal Case Study and Beyond
Phil Alexakos, MPH, REHS
Chief of Environmental Health & Emergency Response
Manchester Health Department

2. Bed Bug History in Manchester
First Calls 2002
Langdon Mill Building
20 Units
Multiple Languages
Older Construction
Multiple Complaints

3. Health Department Role
Not in the business of housing code enforcement
Some in the audience may be wearing both “hats”
Educational role
Connections and access to resources in the Community

4. More History Collaborative Efforts 2005
Mailings to all Laundromats, used furniture providers (that we knew of), furniture rental businesses
Development of educational materials for the public
Awareness and Treatment Guidelines
English, Spanish, Russian, Bosnian
Posted on Web

5. Langdon Mill 2005
October 2005
Identification of a major bedbug and cockroach infestation
Coordination with Housing Code to ensure proper enforcement
Coordination with Pest Control Company to assure that residents were instructed on treatment preparation

6. Langdon Mill 2005 Major issues encountered
Language Barriers
Functional Needs Barriers
Cooperation Barriers
Laundering
Site Prep
Financial Barriers (for tenants and owner)
Where it all fell short…..LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY

7. Landon Mill 2009
March 2009
Reports of children and infants were being “eaten alive” by bed bugs in this building
Community advocacy groups began to act on behalf of these residents on their behalf
Meetings of stakeholders were organized

8. Langdon Mill 2009 Organizers Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP)
American Friends Service Committee
Utilized their resources to bring all parties to the table
Ensured that meetings were well organized and people/ agencies were accountable to effort

9. Langdon Mill 2009 Property Ownership Engaged from DAY 1!!
Committed to a solution
Ensures that resources invested are effective
Integral in the success of any effort

10. Langdon Mill Part 2009 City Government Health Department Public Works
Hosted meetings
Provided access to educational materials
Functioned as the primary linkage to all City services
Provided technical expertise and training to volunteers and participants
Public Works
Provided free access to the City Transfer Station for disposal

11. Langdon Mill 2009- Community Organizations
Multiple Faith-Based groups and most importantly volunteers were energized and trained to continue engaging the residents
Remember, one of the shortcomings of the previous initiatives was sustainability!
Social Service Agencies
These groups are likely to encounter people affected by bedbug issues
Training these workers also protects them from unknowingly putting themselves at risk

12. Langdon Mill 2009- Community Organizations
Cultural Organizations
Assist with translation and training efforts
Increased “buy-in”
Enhanced understanding of issues and challenges for planners and volunteers
Allowed effort to penetrate deeper into the community

13. Langdon Mill 2009 School Department
Social workers, nurses and teachers are likely to encounter the issue
They can help identify problems before they become severe
Provided two great “Case Workers” during the effort which increased trust and continuity during the relocation

14. Langdon Mill 2009
Colleges
Provided an opportunity for “service learning” in the community.
Provide an unlimited supply of volunteers over time.
Access to grants and research opportunities

15. Langdon Mill 2009 Businesses
Provided needed monetary support and resources needed to properly enact the effort
Increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with bed bugs
Local Pest Control Company lent its expert to the effort

16. Langdon Mill 2009- Timeline
April/May Community Planning
May/June Tenant Education
June Media and Community Awareness
June/ July Furniture and Household Items
July/August Tenant Relocation
August Treatment of Building and Maintenance
August Re-Housing
ONGOING Education and Prevention

17. Langdon Mill 2009- Logistics
Housing
Transportation
Volunteer Coordination
Donation Coordination
Food
Case Workers
$$$$ ????

18. Everyone is Back…Now What?
Ongoing involvement
Owner has designated an apartment as a “volunteer office”
Local college remains a strong presence in the building with student volunteers
Tenants are engaged to ensure safe practices
New tenants are educated upon arrival
Units are surveyed for any signs of activity
Action is taken immediately at the first sign of an issue

19. Keeping the Momentum Going
Next Steps
Keeping the Momentum Going

20. This Isn’t the Only Problem in Town, Let Alone the State
Bed Bug “Task Force”, “Policy Group”, “Coalition” was formed
Knowing this continues to be an issue the members of the Langdon Mill Project were determined to energize others to advocate for bed bug awareness and infestation prevention

21. New Partners NH Department of Agriculture, Pesticides
New Hampshire Legal Assistance
The Way Home
NH Cooperative Extension and UNH Manchester
Medical Providers
Many Community-Based Agencies

22. Subcommittees
Public Education
Policy
Funding

23. Public Education Who needs information Where to go for information
Tenants
Property owners
Policy makers
Businesses
Where to go for information
UNH Cooperative Extension
NH 211
Websites

24. Public Information Needs Considerations Pamphlets Magnets Stickers
Ease of reading and understanding
Culturally appropriate
Consistency
Funding $$$
Grants and Partnerships

25. Policy Assessment and Ownership of the Problem
Data collection
Target areas for interventions
Municipal Policy Maker Resolution
Evidence Based Best Practices
What are other places doing?
Minimizing Risk
Enforcement, trash collection, regulation of used furniture place
Consistency
Linkage to Resources

26. Funding Increase public and civic awareness
The more people and businesses know…
This is a REAL problem
Less stigma
More apt to want to commit resources to prevention and treatment
Opportunities to collaborate
Healthy Homes

27. Future Bed Bug Task Force will continue to expand and meet
Hope to organize a statewide conference
Formalize a centralized location for bed bug information
Engage state policy makers