Kayla is homeless and has MCS

I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and other Environmental Sensitivities. For almost 3 years I have been living in housing situations that put my health seriously at risk. I have been homeless for almost half that time, living in a shelter, another government funded place where I was given emergency housing, living with friends & acquaintances wherever they had space in their homes for me to sleep, short term guest houses. I am on government disability & have been unable to find housing that is safe & healthy that I can afford on what I am given by the government & what they let me receive in donations.

Recently the government increased the amount that they allow me to receive in donations. For this year only I am allowed to receive $10,000 in donations in addition to what I am already allowed to receive. What I am hoping is that if this is donated to me I will be able to find somewhere to live that is safe, healthy & affordable.

My sensitivities are severe. My recovery when exposed to things takes sometimes just minutes or hours but it could take days, weeks or one time many months. The time when it was many months I still haven't recovered from.

All my money is spent on rent, food, phone & a locker for the few belongings that I have as I am usually staying places where I can't keep most of my things. Anything beyond those expenses I am creative, resourceful or wait.

Since the beginning of November I have been staying at a motel. By the end of December the money I have that I keep for emergencies will be used up if I stay here. I need to find somewhere to live for January 1 or before. I am able to live here in a motel with my sensitivities because I am using an electronic air purifier, I have plants to help with the air, I use my own sheets and blankets made with natural fibers, when they clean the room with chemical cleaning products I go over it with natural ones to remove the chemicals on the surfaces and there's a window that I can open for fresh air from a large grassy area & trees outside.

I put this under "Medical & Healing" because what I need for healing is a healthy, safe place to live so I can have somewhere where I can have better control of my environment so I am not so much affected by chemicals & other environmental things at least there. I do a lot of things to help myself be as healthy as I can & to avoid or minimize the things that affect me. But until I am living somewhere where I can avoid & minimize these things I have no chance of having a life. My time is spent putting out fires & running from place to place to avoid things I can do nothing about. I am not able to do many normal things because of my sensitivities. I would like to have a home where I can do things I would like to do to have & enjoy life.

My goal is $10,000 by this December 31. But since I need to be applying to landlords now to find a place for or before January 1 I would need a good start right away in donations so I can show potential landlords that this is possible. I ask you to give whatever you can so I will have a safe, healthy home & the basic necessities.

Thank you, Kayla