Cockroach infestation frustrates tenants of gov’t funded apartment

Brent Patterson says he has cockroaches crawling on him when he sleeps.

The tenant who lives at High Park Towers, a government operated seniors apartment building in Moose Jaw, said the pests invaded his unit two months ago.

Last November, the NDP invited tenants to the Legislative Building to raise concerns about pests in the building.

Patterson said that if tenants’ cockroach concerns were taken seriously then, he might not have to worry about his unwanted roommates.

“This problem has gone on way too long, and something should have been done about it a long time ago,” Patterson said.

NDP leader Carla Beck held a news conference outside the building on Wednesday morning, and said the Sask Party and its ministers have taken Moose Jaw for granted.

“These are conditions that are unacceptable, especially for seniors,” Beck said.

In a statement from the Ministry of Social Services, it said the Saskatchewan Housing Authority is working with other housing authorities to address any pest control problems.

“The Ministry of Social Services takes these issues seriously,” the statement read. “The most recent inspection was on Aug. 6, 2024, and treatment is scheduled for (Aug. 14). We will continue to work with pest control contractors to confirm if the treatment is successful and perform additional treatments of the area as necessary.”

Another tenant, Jeff Fingler, said he doesn’t have cockroaches yet, but is concerned that could quickly change.

“I don’t even want to live here but I don’t have an option to go anywhere else,” Fingler said.

Patterson said he has heard from tenants in the building who have been dealing with cockroaches for over a year.

“I don’t want to leave because I have made good friends here. In the same token, I don’t want to continue living this way,” he said.

A suite transfer within the building is unfeasible for him, he said, because rules state units have to be six months pest free.

Patterson said the Moose Jaw Housing Authority has had people come in to spray apartments. However, he said he has little hope the pests will leave forever because they will move into another unit.

Patterson said his apartment’s pest problem is coming at the expense of his family life.

Patterson’s daughter, Melissa, said it’s sad and frustrating that she can’t take her kids to see their grandfather because of the cockroach infestation.

“He is incredibly depressed because of it, and feels very often sick, sick to his stomach about the situation,” said Melissa, the NDP nominee for Moose Jaw Wakamow.

She and her siblings are planning to move Brent out of the building, but moving comes with expensive cleaning and replacement costs for his furniture, she said.

Brent said “it plays hell on a person” to not be able to visit with his family in his own home.