Bed bugs have become an unwelcome fixture for residents of Maywood Phoenix Homes, where longtime tenant June Floyd says she was treated for bites as recently as August 2026 even though her unit has been sprayed only once since April. Floyd, who has lived at the complex for 25 years, says she has complained about the conditions there for years.
WGN-TV reported on bed bug complaints at Maywood Phoenix Homes. At one point she caught one of the bugs in a cup and brought it to her doctor, who confirmed the specimen was in fact a bed bug.
A Building-Wide Problem, Residents Say
Two seniors became trapped in an elevator at the complex on Sept. 3, the station's report notes.
The Maywood Fire Department responded to rescue two seniors trapped in an elevator that day.
Management Points to Inspections and Canine Screenings
Maywood Phoenix Homes management said it takes resident pest and living-condition concerns seriously and that it prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of residents. The complex said it conducts proactive pest inspections throughout the property and provides annual canine-assisted pest screenings, adding that it offers additional inspections and treatment whenever residents report concerns.
WGN-TV reached out to the village of Maywood for comment but did not receive a response, the outlet reported.
Why Bed Bugs Are Hard to Eliminate
Bed bug infestations are notoriously stubborn to clear, even under the best conditions. A Cornell University integrated-pest-management expert has said that even low-level infestations typically require three to four treatment visits to fully resolve, according to Louisville Public Media, whose 2018 investigation found bedbugs' resistance to chemical treatment is growing worldwide. That same investigation documented residents at Louisville's Dosker Manor public housing complex complaining about bedbugs in more than 340 units over a two-and-a-half-year span, with the housing authority failing to open work orders for at least five of ten last-resort complaint calls.
Illinois has faced bed bug complaints, including at Maywood Phoenix Homes.
What Illinois Law Says About Landlord Responsibility
Under Illinois law, landlords are responsible for keeping rental buildings safe and sealed against pests, according to Illinois Legal Aid Online. That guidance also states landlords generally must pay for bed bug removal unless they can prove a tenant introduced the infestation themselves, and notes that regular treatments may be necessary to actually resolve a pest problem rather than a single visit.
Residents at Maywood Phoenix Homes have described bed bug problems in their building.
