Pest Defense Interview with Susannah Krysko
Pest Defense asked Susannah Krysko of the Northeastern IPM Center, NYS IPM Program and StopPests in Housing about her work related to IPM in affordable housing.
Please tell me about your role in the StopPests in Housing program.
I joined the HUD-funded StopPests in Housing team at Cornell University’s Northeastern IPM Center in 2013 when bed bugs were raging through affordable housing and the pest control industry was still figuring out how to control these notoriously elusive pests. Since then, I’ve traveled around the country working with affordable housing providers to improve their pest control programs by transitioning to an IPM approach. We certainly have more tools and knowledge than we did 10 years ago, but bed bugs, along with cockroaches and rodents, continue to plague affordable housing. These pests impact the quality of life, finances and health of vulnerable populations in low-income neighborhoods, particularly in elderly and disabled housing. The driving force behind my work is the belief that everyone deserves safe and decent housing, free of contaminants and pests. Unfortunately, pests are often accepted as part of life in affordable housing. The reality is, with the right tools and resources, pests can be eliminated, managed and stopped at the introduction stage, before we see chronic infestations and the associated health impacts.
What are some of the challenges associated with implementing IPM in affordable housing?
Low-income communities suffer from disproportionately high rates of pest infestations resulting in higher rates of asthma and allergies and higher risk of pesticide exposure. Pest control in affordable housing communities is often complaint-based or calendar-based pesticide applications. These methods fail to prevent or manage pests and the conditions that contribute to pest infestations. The constant chemical spraying increases pesticide resistance, making super bugs that are very difficult to kill. Residents are forced to live with the pests and the risk of pesticide exposure.
Chronic pest infestations are expensive for housing organizations. When selecting a pest control contractor, housing providers often select the contractor who submits the lowest bid for the work. For a pest control company to make a profit on the low-balled contract, they often use the fastest and least expensive treatments – chemical sprays. This model is not financially sustainable, and housing providers end up paying over and over for treatments that do not eliminate the pests. The residents suffer the consequences, and worse, they are often blamed when it is rarely their fault that the building has chronic pests. When residents see the professional treatments constantly failing, they may not report pests to management and take matters into their own hands with bug bombs and sprays. These DIY methods are not only ineffective but work against us by scattering the bugs and can cause them to develop more pesticide resistance.
What are current best practices for implementing IPM in affordable housing?
IPM is not a one-size-fits all operation, but there are some common pieces that should be in place to successfully implement IPM in multifamily housing. An effective IPM program should start with training and technical assistance to empower housing professionals to understand, advocate for and require long-term, effective solutions for their buildings. At StopPests, we focus on institutionalizing IPM with each housing site we work with. This includes developing a site-appropriate IPM plan and policy and reviewing and helping to improve the pest control contract. Having a good contract in writing and the knowledge to oversee it is vital. However, it’s not only the contractor’s responsibility to eliminate the pests in a building. Everyone who lives and works in affordable housing must play a role in keeping the building healthy and pest-free. Property managers oversee the pest control program and allocate resources, and maintenance staff are responsible for making the building repairs that limit access and travel through the building (exclusion) and assisting in limiting access to food and water by repairing leaks and managing trash. Finally, we encourage residents to play a role by keeping their homes clean and organized, reporting pest sightings to management and not self-treating. IPM can eliminate pests in affordable housing but takes knowledge, advocacy, oversight and teamwork!
To learn more, you can watch the recording of Susannah’s presentation, IPM in Affordable Housing, which is part of the ongoing IPM Symposium webinar series.