Please help me, Lemmy.

I was staying at a friend’s for a month waiting for an affordable room to be available, only to move in and after a week see a bedbug.

It’s a single room, for poor people, with a shared kitchen.

I am poor, work remotely, and my financial situation is bad. I thought this could improve things.

I moved in a week ago, but didn’t move all my stuff in because it’s in boxes in my friend’s garage right now.

I have moved in with 2 outfits, 2 jackets, a work computer, some computer accessories, and have purchased 1 matress and pillow and bed sheet set at target.

The manager of the property beforehand said there haven’t been bed bugs for years, but one of the door has like a block over the bottom with powder in the doorway past the block to kill bugs as like a sort of trap. The manager said prior to my moving in this is just fear from 3 years ago. The units are very affordable and I had to be on a waitlist to get a unit.

I am not sure what to do. The place is mostly quiet and I could work here. I don’t love the area because although it’s low income rent, it’s in a high cost area with many food places nearby charging very high tourist amounts, like any burrito or sandwich is $13 at least. Rent is very low, however.

I could leave now before moving other stuff in, put my stuff in bags except for my work computer when getting back to my friends, and look for a different slightly more expensive place. I can’t stay with my friend long-term because her apartment is next to a distribution center with trucks pulling in and out all night and I wake up easily due to PTSD and always being on alert, even when sleeping. She sleeps through anything. I also don’t like ear-plugs and can’t sleep with them in. When I was staying there I was chronically tired.

Suggestions from Lemmy? How bad are bed bugs? It was only 1 but I squished it. Pest control coincidentally came that day and identified it is a bed bug.

Also, I have not paid rent for this month and it’s due by tomorrow. I could actually leave immediately, today even, and just not pay the rent. My credit is bad already and the money would be useful if it’s a mistake to stay. It’s sleazy to leave wirhout paying for this month, but I am poor and may not have the luxury of paying for a place that could result in a chronic bed bug infestation. I would also lose my deposit.

I also don’t know where it came from. I can’t be totally sure it didn’t come from my friend’s place although I stayed there 5 weeks and saw nothing bad. I also had purchased a new outfit from a store with vintage recycled clothes, like an upscale GoodWill store, but that was 2 weeks ago and there were no bites. It may not be from the new place, but I don’t think I was bitten before the move in. Strangely, I don’t even know if the bedbug I squished bit me. The pest control person said the city has many infestations and could have come from public transportation.

My friend lives 6 hours away by bus and I don’t know as many people there. It’s also a cheaper area and I could move there. I could actually just get a ticket and leave today if everything else is irrational.

I am very tired and don’t know what to think. The time at my friends impacted my mental health and I’m not sure I am seeing it rationally.

  • can
    7·
    21 hours ago

    It may be that other residents know, but don’t want fumigation

    They likely know and would prefer the landlord do anything possible. When someone brought them to my old building they did heat treatments, no fumigation.

    Fuck, I’m getting chills just thinking about it. The treatments worked and I haven’t lived there in years.

    That’s a really tough situation. I assume you’ve told your friend that you were staying with? Because tbh if it were me I’d make you strip down outside and put your clothes in a plastic bag before entering.

    Also, hardly a consolation, but they seem to prefer some blood more than others. I was lucky to not be bitten much but my roommate was not. You may be lucky. But don’t discount the mental toll. I think I may have a kind of PTSD from that experience.

    • theotherwoman@lemmy.worldOP
      5·
      20 hours ago

      My friend knows. I was thinking of getting a gym membership first to shower at before entering. Even traveling on the bus seems unethical, even with new fresh clothes before traveling. I’m just screwed no matter what.

      • can
        6·
        20 hours ago

        It’s a shitty situation for sure. They are adept at hiding in clothes, furniture, crevices. But if you strip your clothes, immediately bag and tie, give yourself a quick look over, and put on fresh ones you should be fine.

        But a shower somewhere in there can’t hurt.