Residents of a low-income senior living complex in Orlando said they are living in fear because a rat infestation has taken over their first floor apartments.
Residents at the Villas at Carver Park said the Orlando Housing Authority wasn't doing enough to handle the problem.
The housing authority said it is setting out rat traps to help ensure the problem does not occur again or to anyone else.
But residents fear not enough is being done to handle the infestation behind their walls
"I don't think I even realized how big they were until the one jumped from the top of the refrigerator down to the hole it came out of,” said resident Marion Buckingham.
Three first floor residents said they plugged up holes themselves near the baseboards where the rats come into their homes.
Residents said pest control provides them sticky rat pads and traps from time to time, but more needs to be done about the infestation.
"Once you hear it snap you got one. It was four, like one after another I guess, because I was cooking, they smelled the food they coming,” said Delores Bell.
Buckingham said the rats come into her home at night.
Another resident asked not to be identified, but said she won't go back to her apartment because she is afraid she might get bitten by one.
The Orlando Housing Authority, which runs the building, said the matter is being taken seriously.
OHA said in a statement, “When the resident made us aware, we immediately called an exterminator to the apartment. Further, we are taking the additional precaution of having adjacent apartments inspected to also seal any entry points.”
City code enforcement, has not received any complaints from residents about the rat problem.