ORLANDO, Fla.,None — As the temperature drops throughout Central Florida, one Orlando homeless shelter will be closed.
A bed bug infestation has forced the Salvation Army men's shelter to shut down on Friday.
The agency said it spent the day, not only trying to get rid of the bugs, but scrambling to find shelter for 75 men to keep them out of the cold.
The shelter could be closed for at least a week.
Bed bug eggs were found tucked into the crevasses of more than a dozen beds.
Some beds were so bad that they had to be bagged.
Major Andy Kelly told WFTV it will be at least one week before they can reopen the shelter.
"We've had some places come up beside us and offer us a place to put the men and be out of the cold, and we've opened up our gymnasium," said Kelly.
Some of the displaced men couldn't even take their stuff. They had to leave it behind so it could be placed in plastic bags and treated, WFTV learned.
"The bed bugs are hitchhikers, so they jump on and latch on and go place to place and use us as a vehicle," said Paul Giordana, Massey Services Inc.
The agency said it has never had a bed bug problem before.
The entire building will have to be wrapped and sprayed with chemicals next week.
Officials said treatment costs run $15,000, jeopardizing the organization's building maintenance budget.
But WFTV learned that Massey Services offered to do the job for free, as well as help the Salvation Army prevent the problem from happening again.
Part of the plan includes nearly 600 donated bed bug bags and mattress covers.
"This is just incredible, even more than expected," said Kelly.
The Coalition for the Homeless told WFTV it has room for the displaced men.
The coalition also said it's aware of the situation and will keep a close watch on their facility.
WFTV
