Bedbugs invade shelter in Myrtle Beach

A local homeless shelter has temporarily stopped admitting new clients to its emergency overnight shelter services while the agency battles a bedbug outbreak, according to officials.

Street Reach Ministries in Myrtle Beach is not accepting any new overnight stays until Sept.16, while the shelter undergoes a cleaning treatment for bedbugs and prepares to implement a new recovery program and new policies, said director Joy Hanner, who began working at Street Reach on Aug.16.

Shelter officials discovered an issue with the pests on Aug. 19 and had a pest control company come in for an inspection, Hanner said. The shelter, at the corner of Mr. Joe White Avenue and Osceola Street, was evacuated for six hours Aug.20 while another pest control company did a treatment, Hanner said.

The director said all belongings and beds were put outside that day.

"It's something happening all over the country in hotel rooms," said Ed Jackson, board president of Street Reach Ministries. "You're going to have this problem."

Early Monday morning, all beds were stripped and residents' bed linens and clothing were placed in plastic bags and put outside for at least 30 minutes in the heat in an attempt to kill the bugs and their eggs, Hanner said.

"We're going to do it again Thursday with the bed linens and mats," said Hanner, who said the floors, walls and the bed frames are also being washed down with warm soapy water.

"We want to make sure critters are not getting in any nooks and crannies here," Hanner said.

Xtreme Termite & Pest Control will do the bug treatment at the shelter twice a week for a month, then once a week for a month, and then once a month thereafter, Hanner said.

"This is the first time this kind of regimen has been done here, not because it is worse but because we want to make sure we are rid of them and not have this problem again," Hanner said. "We want to make sure it is taken care of before introducing anyone new to the building."

The 80 people now staying in the men's and women's facilities at the shelter can continue to stay there, Hanner said. It is hard to predict how many people seeking emergency overnight services the shelter may have to turn away.

Shelter officials said they are referring people to places like Myrtle Beach Haven, the Center for Women and Children or some hotels associated with area churches. Individuals are still able to receive toiletries and dinner from the shelter, Hanner said.

She plans to introduce a new recovery program and to address logistics of where people should stay in the shelter.

"I'm trying to lay out the building differently so everyone is safe," said Hanner.

They also are seeking 40 new mats for the emergency overnight shelter.

"I feel pretty bad about turning people away," she said. "We're hoping to return to normal service by September 16th."