Shiela’s Story

Shiela was a SafeLot guest for over a year. She has an unusual disability – she cannot be around certain common chemicals without getting very sick. Her support dog, Kenai, helps her detect the presence of these chemicals and won’t let her enter a room or business if he smells these dangers. 

The list of products that Shiela is not safe around is long. It includes glues and chemicals used in linoleum, cabinets, vinyl flooring, and many common household items. This has made getting housed extremely difficult. It is also difficult for Shiela that you can’t see her disability – people don’t understand how severe her reaction is and the health problems exposure can cause. 

Shiela looked a long time for housing. Other organizations were pessimistic about the likelihood that Shiela would find housing as so many low-cost apartments had laminated cabinets and linoleum floors. The CSPI case manager, Sherry, however, was hopeful. She knew it could take some time – but a place for Sheila was out there. She suggested looking at older apartments, built before the problem glues and chemicals were in use. Eventually volunteers from the church where the SafeLot is located found a place in a neighborhood Shiela loved! She was so excited! Then homeowner’s association said she couldn’t move in because of Kenai. No dogs allowed, not even one essential to Shiela’s survival.

Again, volunteers stepped in and with the help of a lawyer were able to convince the homeowner’s association to recognize the error of their ways.  Shiela and Kenai moved in to their new home in early May.