Residents at two housing complexes in Houston are dealing with severe rat infestations. The Columbia Senior at 2100 Memorial has been struggling with the issue for months, causing concerns about safety and health among the senior residents, according to a report by Click2Houston.
Marlei Cannedy, a resident of a senior living complex, described her experience as a "living nightmare" after being bitten by a rat in September. Despite pest control efforts, rats continue to enter the building through holes in the utility room, and the smell of decaying rodents persists. "I stuck my hand in a pouch by the door, and the rat grabbed my hand," Cannedy said. She and other residents have called for more effective measures, as current traps and weekly removals have not resolved the issue. At Kelly Village, also known as Kelly Courts, tenants have reported similar problems. Shannon Neely, a tenant, contracted rat bite fever and said she catches rats on glue traps daily. Despite informing the property management, the infestation remains unresolved, as reported by Click2Houston and Houston Chronicle.
Neely told the Houston Chronicle, "I catch rats every day." Many tenants are afraid of eviction or retaliation, so they stay quiet about the problems. One resident said, "If everyone was out here and they didn’t have fear, you’d have half the apartment complex out here." The Houston Housing Authority and property management haven't given a clear solution, as stated by Houston Chronicle and Click2Houston.
