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Contact: Sharon Wachsler, EHCWM Housing Committee

413-625-9820 or SWachsler@aol.com

Environmental Health Coalition of Western Mass.,

P.O. Box 614, Leverett, MA 01054

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 11, 2002

HOMELESSNESS AT CRITICAL LEVEL FOR WESTERN MASS. CHEMICALLY

INJURED

LEVERETT, MA (March 11, 2002) -- Survey results just released by the

nonprofit Environmental Health Coalition of Western Massachusetts (EHCWM)
reveal that rates of homelessness among people with multiple chemical
sensitivity (MCS) are significantly higher those of the general population.
"Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing people with MCS," declares
board member Jean Gran of Heath, who was "not surprised, but dismayed" by the
results. "This survey makes the extent of the problem very clear." While
homelessness among the general population is estimated well below 1%, of
those surveyed by EHCWM, 10% to 20% were homeless at the time of the survey,
and over half (57%) have been homeless at some point since developing MCS.

People with MCS are severely sensitive to a range of common toxins at levels
below what is usually considered safe. Most housing?for rent or sale?contains
mold or chemicals (such as pesticides, paint, carpeting, or natural gas)
that may make people with MCS very sick, sometimes life-threateningly so. Of
those surveyed who have been homeless, 85% stayed with friends and family,
43% lived in their cars, and one quarter lived in tents. Some participants
mentioned living "on the roof in the hallway," "shed," "in car and cabin on
and off," and "camper with no water or sanitary facilities." Peggy Wolff of
Leverett, EHCWM Chairperson at the time of the survey, admits, "I've had my
own time in a tent, in a trailer. I've been fortunate to be able to build a
house," she adds. "More and more people need safe housing. Those with the
most resources?money and connections?are going to get them, and the needs of
the sickest and low-income people will continue not to be met."

The survey was created by EHCWM's Housing Committee and distributed to

members from March to August 2000. EHCWM conducted the survey for two
reasons. The first was to determine the housing needs of their community in
order to plan for future projects. Second, the Coalition?s experience
strongly suggested that housing is the number one problem for its members ? a
problem that is getting worse. Members of EHCWM's housing committee felt that
the information generated by the survey would indicate if their anecdotal
experience was typical. With this tangible proof of the crisis in their
community, members want the public, as well as private and public housing
organizations, to take action on this issue.

The 49 surveys completed represents approximately 17% of EHCWM's MCS

membership. The two-page questionnaire asked people with MCS about their
current conditions, past problems, and future hopes for housing. In addition
to homelessness, the survey results suggest people with MCS in Western Mass.
face significant barriers not only in finding and keeping accessible housing,
but also in receiving disability accommodations once in their housing. Those
who are on the lower end of the income scale have the worst housing
experiences overall. For instance, among those who consider their housing
unsafe, the largest percentage (13 of 21 or 62%) are in the lower income
ranges, compared with 3 of 21 or 14% for those with the highest incomes.
Those with the lowest incomes also indicate greater housing instability and
problems with landlords and other tenants not accommodating their access
needs.

Because homeless shelters are not accessible to people with MCS, the problem
often goes undetected by housing advocates, including those promoting
disability access. "I'm furious that zero respondents have been able to stay
in a homeless shelter," says national disability activist Susan Molloy of
Arizona. "The survey indicates that MCS-disabled people in Western Mass. are
in the same desperate struggle for shelter as those [with MCS] in the rest of
the country. Most of us are women, and practical self-defense measures should
preclude the way we have to live, isolated and without shelter." Molloy urges
concerned citizens to pressure public housing officials to address the crisis.
"Too many friends I love have died with this disease because they didn't
have safe shelter," she mourns.

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Summer 2000 Housing Survey of EHCWM Members with MCS

49 respondents, representing approximately 17% of EHCWM's MCS membership.

Current Situation (at time of survey)

Homeless: 10% - 20% (5-10 of 49), depending on how homeless is defined.

Sample comments: Living in car & cabin on & off, staying with
friends/family (4), stripped trailer in back yard, camper with no water
or sanitary facilities, car.

Consider their housing safe (accessible): 55% (27 of 49)

Consider their housing permanent: 27% (12 of 44)
Consider their housing BOTH safe (accessible) AND permanent: 25% (11 of 44)
Consider their housing NEITHER safe NOR permanent: 43% (19 of 44)
Household composition:
Alone 25 (51%)
Partner 19 (39%)
Other (roommate, parents, kids): 8 (16%)
Sample comments: ?He [partner] is only here half the time,? ?Have husband and
daughter but forced to leave home and live alone.?

Average Annual Household Income:

$5400 or less 5 (10%)
$5401 - $12,000 17 (35%)
$12,001 - $24,000 11 (22%)
Over $24,000 15 (31%)
Notes: Living with a partner correlated with a higher income (and living
alone with a lower income). Presumably this is because in most cases the
partner is healthy and able to work. 75% of those living alone (18 of 24) had
a gross income of $12,000 or less. 68% of those living with partners (13 of
19) had a gross income of over $24,000/year.

Housing History

Had to live in a place that made them sick: 73% (36 of 49)
Had to spend more than could afford to stay in safe housing: 47% (23 of 49)
Landlords or other tenants unwilling to accommodate MCS: 51% (25 of 49)

Number who have been homeless at some point: 57% (28 of 49)
Had to stay with friends/family: 50% (24 of 48) - seven months average
Lived in a car: 25% (12 of 48) - nine months average
Lived in a tent: 15% (7 of 47) - eight months average
Other homeless or substandard housing: 20% (10 of 49)
Examples: ?cabin/camping,? ?on the roof in the hallway,? ?shed?

Relationship Between Income and Housing

The data below demonstrate that those with the lowest incomes have the most
difficulty in finding and staying in accessible, affordable, permanent
housing.

Live in subsidized housing: 11% (5 of 47).

Income of those whose landlords or neighbors have been unwilling to

accommodate MCS access needs (24 of 48):
$12,000 year or less: 67% (16 of 24);
$12,001 - 24,000 year: 30% (7 of 24);
over $24,000 year: 5% (1 of 24).

Income of those who do NOT consider housing safe (accessible): (21 of 48):
$12,000 year or less: 62% (13 of 21);
$12,001 - 24,000 year: 24% (5 of 21);
over $24,000 year: 14% (3 of 21).
Income of those who do NOT consider housing permanent: (31 of 48):
$12,000 year or less: 58% (18 of 31);
$12,001 - 24,000 year: 16% (5 of 31);
over $24,000 year: 26% (8 of 31).

Income of those who have lived in a place that made them sick (35 of 48):
$12,000 year or less: 51% (18 of 35);
$12,001 - 24,000 year: 20% (7 of 35);
over $24,000 year: 29% (10 of 35).

Income of those who have spent more than they could afford to stay in safe
housing (22 of 48):
$12,000 year or less: 50% (11 of 22);
$12,001 - 24,000 year: 23% (5 of 22);
over $24,000 year: 27% (6 of 22).

To obtain more information about the EHCWM housing survey, please call
413-625-9820.
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