Issue of MCS-safe housing

[Guest guest]

Every time I hear our government has given $ millions to other countries I get

angry. If I/we were physically up to it, I would love for us to organize

demonstrations in front of housing authorities all over the country.

For weeks a local TV station tells viewers if they have an idea for a story to

submit it to them. So, of course, I thought I would give it a shot. Bet my

similar letter to the Whitehouse never even was read.

Anyway, I wondered if those of you who have/are living in your cars, tents,

travel trailers, etc. would like me to add to the following letter a list of

your names with e-mail addresses. Perhaps the station would contact some of you

for your experiences.

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The forgotten handicapped, forgotten homeless

There are countless numbers of people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)

who spend years on the move, in search of a house or apartment in which they can

live without the ongoing suffering brought on by the toxins/chemicals we are

exposed to in our daily lives. Moving from place to place is a physical

hardship as well as a drain financially.

I write this for myself and for the countless others suffering with the

challenges of multichemical sensitivity. MCS is a disorder triggered by

exposures to chemicals in the environment. After a time, it takes less and less

exposure to related chemicals to cause symptoms, such as headache, fatigue,

disorientation, eyes, throat burning, nausea, irregular or rapid heartbeat,

gastrointestinal problems, muscle and joint pain, mood disturbances

(depression/anxiety/irritability), asthma, rashes. MCS can be an extremely

debilitating illness, making it very difficult to find and maintain housing and

employment. Surprisingly, much of the medical profession and society cannot or

do not wish to accommodate us.

Some exposures linked to MCS are: offgassing of new carpets, new building

materials and furnishings, house paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides and wood

preservatives, formaldehyde in new clothes, books, and other products,

carbonless paper, inks, copying machine and laser printer toner, second-hand

tobacco smoke, gas stoves, electromagnetic radiation from household appliances

like refrigerators, televisions, computers, exhaust fumes from cars, trucks,

busses, scented personal care products, mold and mildew.

Occasionally, I see MCS awareness articles, which is good, but WE NEED ACTION!

Many MCSrs live in their vehicles, tents in yards or camp grounds — in spite of

the fact that they can afford to pay rent or buy a house. They keep moving in

their quest to find an apartment or house that does not make them ill. I

frequently see ads by MCSrs — searching for a pad with hookups or even a

driveway to rent as they need a safe place to park/sleep.

I am a 66-year-old, retired, senior lady. Currently, I own a 1975 mobile home

in a 55+ mobile home park in north Phoenix. I have MCS, a heart condition, and

some other health problems. I feel time is running out for me. I do not know

how much longer I will physically and financially be able to continue living on

my own (and no, I do not have family here). At this point in my life I should

be living in senior housing but that is not an option for me — because of the

pesticides and other chemicals used to maintain the buildings and daily

cleaning.

The pollution in Phoenix keeps me housebound with air cleaners. Because of my

health problems, I need to stay in a warm, dry climate, low elevation. The air

quality is better in some parts of Tucson, so I have been trying to find a

rental there but no luck so far. With cleaner air, I would be able to sit

outside on a patio, walk around a swap meet. There is housing for the poor, for

the disabled, but no safe housing rentals for the chemically sensitive.

America is rebuilding Iraq, came up with $300 million real fast for Haiti, $10

million for Pakistan, gives money to other countries. Not all MCSrs can afford

to build a custom MCS-safe home, which utilizes building materials without

harmful chemicals, etc. There are enough MCSrs nationwide that I feel

government agencies (? local housing authorities) should and property/building

owners might:

1) construct / refurbish safe housing for MCSrs to rent in all major cities

(preferably at the outer city limits but within reasonable distance of

handicapped/senior services), and not based on income exclusively;

2) construct / refurbish safe office buildings for those MCSrs who are able to

work if in a safe environment;

3) construct / refurbish MCS clinics with various specialties — we get very ill

and sometimes have difficulty breathing when we go for appointments.

The luxury of being in a home where we can live without being literally poisoned

is an attainable goal. It requires the support, cooperation, and caring of

those in a position of authority and with the funding (such as our taxes) to

make it happen!

Cordially,

My name, e-mail, phone number