SWFL veteran pays rent while living in backyard

Reporter: Lindsey Sablan
Published:

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – A veteran is being forced to live in a tent in his backyard because of a bed bug infestation.

Scott Banning, who served in the Air Force and Navy, and his wife, Donna, have been living in the home since January.

They are paying for it through HUD-VASH, a program between Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs to help place homeless veterans.

Scott Banning said when they first moved into the home, they noticed bed bugs and contacted the landlord.

He said the landlord sent a pest control company to exterminate, but the bed bugs never fully went away.

“You might see a small little bug or little bug and it’s about the size of like a little pimple and then they grow and all of the sudden they’re everywhere. The nest is a big black area. It’s unbelievable,” he said.

Banning had a heart attack in December of 2013. He’s suffered from several health problem as a result and cannot work. His landlord told Banning if he wants to have the home treated again, he has to pay for it himself.

Since Banning cannot afford a fumigation treatment and didn’t know where to turn, he says he asked the VA if they would relocate him.

When asked what the VA told Banning, he said “there’s a process. It’s a bureaucracy. We found a new home in Collier County versus Lee County. The landlord’s willing to take it [the housing voucher]. They [VA coordinator] said they can’t do it. They simply can’t handle the paperwork, it’s too much for them to deal with.”

So WINK News Call for Action contacted the HUD-VASH regional office in Atlanta, which oversees our area.

Within an hour and a half, they called back saying they had multiple people working to help Banning and his wife.

“We’re not asking for miracles, we’re simply asking for them to do their job,” Banning said. “I don’t expect anything more or less.”

At the time this story was published, Banning had not had confirmation he was going to be moved to a new home but was hopeful.

He also needs to have the current home fumigated if he wants to take any of his belongings to a new home, but doesn’t know how he will be able to cover that charge.

WINK News Call for Action is in contact with Banning and working to make sure he gets help.

For those who would like to help, email lindsey.sablan@winknews.com.

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