Emergency Housing for Chemical and Mold Sensitivity MCS / CIRS

Here is a list of some housing ideas for those with environmental sensitivities needing immediate or temporary safe housing.

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Simple Cabins

Simple cabins and permanent tents are located across the US and Canada at campgrounds.

Some cabins are made from mostly safe materials (mostly wood) and have been reported to be good places to stay for those who are environmentally sensitive.

Ask if the wood has been stained recently.

The bathrooms are separate and may or may not be mold-free, depending on the location.

Recently, I’m hearing reports of cabins having gone moldy.

If the foundation or roof is not done right, there is a high chance these could go moldy.

Often newer is better for mold.

Home-made Tents

Regular tents can be difficult for the most extremely sensitive because of the chemicals used on the fabrics, the lack of insulation, and the tendency for them to go musty very easily and be a lot of work with the airing out and drying out.

I have a preferred tent, which is an off-the-ground tent in my post on camping gear.

Here are some alternatives:

Reflectix Tent 

Reflectix provides some R-value and reflects light so that should work in a lot of different climates, though the seams will reduce the insulative value and add more glue and more potential for leaks. There are simpler designs for the structure that will reduce seams.

You can’t buy these – you would have to look online for the metal structure, then buy the Reflectix, foam, aluminum tape, and duct tape, and then have someone make it for you. 

The tape may make this intolerable for some.

And this also lacks airflow (make sure you have airflow in some way otherwise your CO2 levels will become dangerous).

You would also make at least one triangle out of polyethylene or an EVA Shower Liner so that you have some light.

But have a flap of Reflectix over it that you open and close over this “window”.

Plastic Tent

Kim was severely sensitive to chemicals.

She made a tent out of Tyvek, which she tolerated well when extremely reactive. She explains how to make it here.

Through extreme mold avoidance and a plant medicine that changes the brain, Kim made a full recovery.

This is a plastic used as house wrap.

There are so many options for what you can build an emergency tent out of – you an use almost anything.

It all depends on what you can tolerate.

It may not last forever, but it may give you some time to find another option or even bring down your MCS, which will open up options. 

Other materials you could use: Dyneema/cuben fiber, polyethylene, tarps, and even hemp fabric if you are not expecting rain and don’t have high humidity.

Foam Tent

When Sara was an extreme reactor (she also recovered but then got long COVID), she made a simple structure out of XPS foam boards.

The two-inch boards of XPS (usually Owens Corning brand can be found easily) have a high insulative value.

She arranged them in a tent shape, the groves in the edges holding them together.

Rocks at the base were pressing them together.

Of course, you could use tape if you can tolerate that, or put plastic over the whole thing.

My version was made of polyiso foam. This is a “foam tent” used inside a non-insulated trailer that was cold and was still off-gassing.

I hooked up a Panasonic ERV and ran fresh air into the tent at night via a 4-inch aluminum tube. The opposite end of the tent had a 4-inch hole for air to exit.

This is a highly effective way to deal with off-gassing – fresh air is pouring through, though it can be difficult to control the temperature and humidity this way. 

I later realised it would be much easier to make a foam box outside rather than inside a trailer. More on that below.

Coroplast Tent

This YouTuber built a foldable shelter out of the safer plastic Coroplast. The downside is the amount of tape needed to form a shelter like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGHGtnpy-IUu0026fbclid=IwAR1LiPpJ1BpEWlQuefVykxbR0czxk3t0vePLsqTvBVrE3WNQrJTHQXnw5vA

Lego Blocks Shelter

EverBlock makes plastic blocks that fit together like LEGO.

You can make a simple structure out of these.

Though in 2024 they no longer show an example of a little shelter or advertise it for this purpose.

Though they do have a little room with a roof, the biggest size for that is 8 x 12 feet.

It does not have windows.

They say it’s not for outdoor use.

So this might be able to be made into an emergency shelter or room within a room inside a house.

It’s a safer plastic than fiberglass that is much more tolerable for the chemically sensitive.

Simple Wood and Foam Shelter

Inspired by the idea of a foam shelter, I have made two highly insulated shelters with rigid foam, raised off the ground, and covered in a tarp.

A wood structure like mine, pictured above, was protected from wind and snow with a wooden frame and tarp over that.

The base platform was solid wood with a plywood floor.

On top of that was a box made out of foam boards held together with tape.

This shelter worked extremely well, though there are things to keep an eye on in the long term.

Here are some video tours, and here is a post devoted just to this shelter (the second one had no wood framing above, just a tarp).

The whole thing was completed with some volunteers and some paid labor for 1000 CAD at the time. 

Such a robust frame is not always necessary.

You can build the plywood platform, with a foam box on top, and simply string a tarp over this if you don’t have strong winds or lots of snow. 

Here’s another example of a foam box.

Just don’t put it right on the ground like they did here, and you want another cover on it.

This is polyethylene foam, which is much more unusual. 

Insulated/Aluminum Tents

These WeatherHyde tents are insulated, and the foil on the inside will also block most of the VOCs from the fabric on the outside.

They say you can sleep in them down to 0 degrees Celsius.

They are 600 USD.

They look like they would have problems with airflow and condensation inside.

As well as being straight on the ground, but they may work for some people. 

The shift pod for 1300 USD is similar, but with the reflective layer on the outside.

This will help reflect the sun and keep cool in sunny weather when there is no shade.

But I don’t know how this will perform well with condensation inside.

The best type of tents have an internal mesh layer, then a gap with a rainfly on top. If you don’t use that system, you usually end up with condensation. 

There are other similar tents cropping up that were designed for the Burning Man festival.

A simpler option is a aluminum-lined small sleeping tent. It’s not insulated, but the aluminum on the inside is more tolerable than the usual tent materials and does reflect heat inside. 

Regular Tent

There is no perfectly chemical-free tent.

The most tolerable brands are listed in my tent article, but everyone is different. 

My post on tents looks at the lowest off-gassing options and which ones are free of flame retardants and PFAS.

In the post, I also discuss canvas cotton and hemp for really dry climates (or temporary use), which may be where the most sensitive need to start.

I would also check out the cuben fiber tents mentioned in the camping post.

Yurts & Huts

Yurts are often tricky for a few reasons.

Most are made out of PVC, which takes time to off-gas.

On top of that, they are tricky to insulate in a way that is not affected by condensation, although one could just use them uninsulated.

The wooden framing can be susceptible to mold if there is a lot of condensation inside, which can happen when heating up a small space.

The wood also might be treated and could cause reactions for some people. 

There are yurts that have metal framing, which is usually better.

This brand makes mostly PVC-free yurt-like structures.

Ask about flame retardants with all yurts.

You could create your own outer yurt cover by using a more tolerable material.

You can use fabircs used to make tents, or polyethylene sheets that are used for greenhouses, or tarps.

You could also go truly traditional and use animal hides.

One really positive design feature of yurts is that they are lifted off the ground on a platform. 

Huts

Conestoga huts have a simple design for a little hut/glorified tent. A simple design that goes up fast is a big benefit.

I have not been able to review these plans for mold-preventative building, and you may need to swap out some materials for less toxic ones, but it’s an interesting design.

If you don’t insulate this, it shouldn’t be a problem. If you do want to try these with insulation, please reach out to an expert in building science. I am not presuming these are a mold-safe design.

Simple Metal SIPS Shelter

You can easily put together click-together metal SIPs to make a fast, non-toxic and fairly durable structure.

SIPS are structurally integrated panels.

Metal SIPS are made of steel-foam-steel sandwiched together.

A highly tolerable material for those with severe sensitivities.

Because these are structural (when small), you don’t need to build a frame.

Pour a concrete slab, and then once you have the panels, it’s fast.

This little shelter below is one example.

I have two Subtack articles that cover these metal SIPS in detail – Part two of the tiny homes & prefabs series, and a very detailed review/overview of one brand.

Sheds

Steel sheds can be bought from Amazon or hardware stores but are prone to leaks and not possible to insulate in heating climates in a way that will hold up.

See this post by EI Wellspring, for details on sheds, but I’m not recommending this.

Sheds are not as easy to take down as you would expect.

There are also wooden and plastic sheds.

I have seen some good little wooden shed kits made of solid wood.

I would consider this if you don’t insulate it. Insulation makes things much more complicated.

Raise them off the ground and cover them with a tarp above that is not touching the shed.

I like cedarshed.com for those who can tolerate cedar because it’s a highly rot-resistant wood.

Hard plastic sheds will work for many people. These tend to be leaky as well.

The more flexible the plastic the more it off-gasses.

The biggest downsides to sheds are that they often leak and that they may not be able to be insulated without causing condensation.

Glass Enclosures 

A greenhouse can be used for backup shelter.

It gets very hot when the sun hits them in warmer seasons and can dip really low at night in colder temps.

But some people have used them successfully.

Margaret (another person who used this strategy to heal and make it back to indoor housing) talks about her experience with them here (her greenhouse, pictured above). 

Other glass/metal enclosure brands are Handi Hut and Four Season.

I designed an all-glass (on the interior) shelter with insulation on the outside.

This was designed for a time that I could not have metal or wood inside touching me.

The walls and floor were glass. The ceiling would be easier to make out of metal.

The shelter was raised off the ground on a platform.

Outside of the glass was 2 inches of foam insulation. To hold this insulation on, the exterior framing (outside of the foam layer) was attached by drilling through the foam and glass.

The foam needs to be airtight to the glass.

A tarp should cover the shelter.

Back of a Pick-Up Truck

Try and find an aluminum canopy for the back of the truck, which is the best-tolerated type.

The bed liner may need to be off-gassed or can be covered with Reflectix.

If ordering a brand new truck, you can request no liner.

Cargo Trailer

I converted a cargo trailer, and I really would not recommend that.

It’s just too difficult to do this in a way that is mold preventative and doesn’t leak.

This article covers that.

Ambulances and Refrigerated Trucks

The benefit of these two options is that they are already insulated and ready to go.

A decommissioned ambulance is insulated and off-gassed since they already have quite a few years on them by the time the government sells them off.

Refrigerated trucks could be found either new or used, and they are well insulated and also ready to go (though you may need to add windows and ventilation).

If you went new you would have to check out the off-gassing levels to see if it suits you, but I would expect it to last longer.

Creating a Safe Room in Your House 

To create a non-toxic room in your home, you can use Denny Foil, or heavy-duty aluminum foil on the walls/ceiling/floor.

These materials block VOCs (chemicals/toxins, including mold).

Heavy-duty aluminum foil is much easier to work with than the type used in cooking.

You may need several layers to totally block smells. 

You want to use green painter’s tape for this as it will not damage the walls and is easy to remove – a healthy person could rip off/take down the whole room in probably 20-30 min (small room).

The blue tape smells more, so I wouldn’t use that.

You could use aluminum tape, but it is very sticky and will leave a residue and will be hard to take off.

The aluminum tape also smells and seems to off-gass more than green tape.  

I would not do this where you have colder air inside than outside (AC use). 

Cover outlets. As for light fixtures, I would go around them. 

The only thing in the room should be clean bedding i.e. a new non-toxic mattress or camping cot (etc). New non-toxic bedding and pillow.

Be careful that when you open the window or the door that the air coming in might not be good, so this won’t be a long-term solution. 

If you can’t foil the walls, you can make a room within a room and use positive pressure, as explained here in this post.

You can use foam, plastic, or any airtight material.

Isolate that by using positive pressure, which will work to reduce chemicals like off-gassing.

That can be a solution for someone extremely sensitive who has trouble with off-gassing (when the issue is off-gassing rather than mold).

You can find more information in the post on creating a safe room.

Ecovillages

Staying in a cob house (or straw bale, adobe, light straw-clay house) can be a really good option 

Ecovillages may rent out rooms in natural homes, and there is a possibility of getting in on the communal meal plan as well.

Search for some in your area and ask about monthly stays.

I have seen some natural homes listed on Airbnb as well as on lists of intentional communities/ecovillages. 

Always ask about propane, natural gas, cleaning products, and water damage.

Don’t expect amateur builds or earthen homes to be mold-safe, though they can be.

Ecovillages are also a good place to set up a tent, where you might have access to outdoor bathrooms and kitchens that are more MCS-safe than campgrounds.

It may also be a safer environment for those traveling solo.

I have used the Intentional Communities website, Google for places near you, and the site Wwoofing.

If you have physical energy, you can work on a Wwoofing site in exchange for free rent (camping or small cabin usually) and often food.

Another option for those who have energy to do work is remote cabins that are advertised on Craigslist, where you do some house and yard work in exchange for rent.

The cabins might not be safe for sensitive folks, but this could be a free spot to camp or live in a trailer. 

Other Emergency Housing

For housing listings in the US and Canada, join EI Safe Housing on Facebook. 

I talk about hacking hotels and strategies to finding safe vacation rentals in Substack.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.

I spent two years in tents and small structures in order to heal from extreme chemical sensitivity. 

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