Molly Keck, far right, with Habitat homeowners at a site in San Antonio. Photo submitted by Molly Keck.
These American cockroaches are just a
few of the pests that can be a problem in some homes. Texas AgriLife Extension photo by Bart Drees.
IPM Program Partners With Habitat for Humanity to Keep Homeowners Free of Pests
For nearly three years, Texas AgriLife Extension Service IPM program specialists and Habitat for Humanity have been keeping problem pests from invading homeowners in three of Texas' largest cities.
Since 2007, Extension Program Specialists Kim Schofield, Molly Keck and Wizzie Brown have been training new and prospective Habitat homeowners in the Dallas, San Antonio and Austin areas on alternatives to pesticides by using sound methods of control called the ISEC program.
Initiated by Texas AgriLife Extension's Integrated Pest Management Program, ISEC stands for Identify, Sanitize, Exclude and Control. ISEC is designed to teach homeowners the four "common sense" strategies for controlling pests while reducing the pesticide use in their homes.
Extension Program Specialist Kim Schofield said that the one highlight of the success of ISEC as a suitable educational program for Habitat homeowners is that it can help save on costs of hiring a pest control professional services for easily managed pest problems.
Many Habitat for Humanity homeowners tend to be low income individuals who may be unable to budget for professional pest control services.
According to Schofield, the relationship between the ISEC program and Habitat for Humanity has grown to for the point that all new homeowners in these areas must receive training. So far, more than 237 families have gone through the ISEC program.
The most common pests homeowners encounter are cockroaches and ants, as well as rodents, Keck said. Some of the topics that are discussed include removing water and food sources, pesticide safety, and pest control options.
Most of the homeowners that received the training in her area have been pleased with the program, Keck and Schofield noted.
"I receive lots of feedback from homeowners and Habitat that this is the most interesting class they take," she said. "It's been a great relationship."
"I have always enjoyed working with the Dallas Habitat for Humanity and the new homeowners. They are so appreciative of the information and the kits that we are able to provide," Schofield said. "It is a very worthwhile program."
Since ISEC started, Habitat homeowners in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin have shown a 13.7 increase in knowledge after pre- and post- evaluations that were given during the training sessions. Schofield also said the most significant impact of the program is that 79 percent of the people participating now use less pesticide in their homes.