Mortee...You might try sprinkling the tops of your shoes with flowers of sulphur before you go into one of those houses. The stuff repells ticks and chiggers (redbugs) so maybe it'll repell fleas too.
I'm retired but my Wife still teaches "special ed.". She was teaching in an inner city school in the middle of a project about 18 years ago. One day one of her most faithful students was absent and upon asking if anyone knew where he was, was told that his grandmother-with whom he had been living- had been killed by her boyfriend the night before while he watched. She came home in hysterics.
Another time, she had her class out on the playground. She heard a "popping" noise and turned to see most of the class on the ground and at that moment one of the bigger boys tackled her. Then she realized that the whizzing sounds were bullets going overhead. A drive-by shooying over drug turf. No one was hurt.
She now teaches in a rural county.
So heres a big hug. The work you do is vital. Would God that people appreciated it more.

troll