New Program Cuts Bed Bug Incidents by 99%

Allergy Technologies has created ATAHC, a proven program that significantly reduces hard-to-control bed bugs among the country’s most at-risk residents with benefits for a broad range of stakeholders. Prior to implementing this proactive, preventive program, the 470-unit affordable housing community in Philadelphia used for the study reported more than 80-90 bed bug incidents annually.

PMPs will reap the benefits of the program, which is an affordable and sustainable model of control and prevention of bed bugs for their housing clients.

“In addition to revenue growth, PMPs are addressing a huge unmet need in this market, while improving quality of life for their clients and their clients’ residents,” said Charles Cerbini, executive vice president, technical director, Corbett Exterminating, whose firm conducted the initial landmark program. “There is a huge growth opportunity for PMPs in multiple occupant dwellings where bed bugs persist. And, frankly, that’s everywhere.”

ATAHC is distinguished from other approaches by incorporating an initial facility-wide screening and subsequent treatment of infested residential units, immediately lowering the bed bug population. The installation of long-acting preventive measures property-wide, including ActiveGuard Mattress Liners that are the only EPA-registered for-sale product labeled to prevent bed bug infestations for two years, ensures that the bed bug population stays under control.

According to Gus Carey, founder and managing director for Allergy Technologies, “The residents of affordable housing are now primed to have their lives changed due to our groundbreaking ATAHC Program.”

Unique to ATAHC is the focus on the dignity and self-esteem of the residents often negatively impacted by the stigma of bed bugs in community living environments. Education through presentation by HUD-sponsored professionals; distribution of easy-to-understand materials dispelling the myths surrounding this pest in the residents’ native languages; and an overall sensitivity toward cultural diversity are all cornerstones to heightening resident engagement in the program.

“Early detection and intervention are core tenets of the ATAHC Program,” said Joseph Latino, president of Allergy Technologies, “allowing for less disruptive and less expensive localized treatments.” Latino continued by reinforcing that, “a key component of the program’s success comes from having our ATAHC team work collaboratively with residents, property management and professional pest control providers.”

The ATAHC Program has virtually eliminated bed bug incidents impacting residents and staff members.

“Current treatment strategies are not working,” Latino continued. “Bed bug infestations continue to rise across the country, especially in community housing environments. We find this unacceptable, especially for residents, whose quality of life is being severely impacted. We had the means to address this nationwide problem and developed the ATAHC Program, whose results have exceeded even our expectations.”

Carey concluded, “We have been able to provide a solution to a huge unmet need in an environment that desperately needs effective bed bug prevention. Our expectation is this novel strategic program, which has saved money while significantly improving quality of life for the residents and staff, will be replicated in affordable housing communities and other multi-occupant dwelling environs throughout the U.S.”

In 2022 and 2023, Allergy Technologies will roll out the ATAHC Program for implementation in affordable housing and other multi-occupant dwellings throughout the country.

For more details, please visit the Allergy Technologies website at: www.AllergyTechnologies.com.