Vesna Pesic & Shaiso
Shaiso, London
‘Before I contacted Shelter, I’d tried all options. In a day, they’d sorted somewhere for me.’
Shaiso was a wedding planner when the Covid pandemic hit the UK. As for so many people in the hospitality industry, finding work became difficult, and she finally lost her job when lockdown restrictions were announced in December 2020. The redundancy had a devastating knock-on effect: unable to pay for her tied accommodation in a hotel, Shaiso also became homeless.
Bruised but determined, Shaiso spent the next fortnight calling her local council, but was told she hadn’t lived in the area for long enough to qualify for help. Calls to another council proved fruitless, because she wasn’t living there. It was then that a friend suggested Shaiso call Shelter, who’d helped them in the past.
Shaiso’s caseworker managed to get things moving, and fast. Just hours later, Shaiso received a call from an agency, another call from the council, and was found a spot in temporary accommodation the very next day.
Shaiso now lives in a shared house and is proud to be working again. In her spare time, she makes art – and has drawn real inspiration from this project.
Maker’s notes
After the conversation with Shaiso about her experience of homelessness during the pandemic, prominent words were safety, security, and angel.
For Shaiso, Lilly from Shelter was the angel who helped her secure accommodation, while having a home is having a sense of security and safety.
The headpiece represents Shaiso’s journey. It expresses how with the right support, we can have a shelter, how our well-planned lives can easily become very messy, and how homelessness can unexpectedly affect anyone.
In the space we call home, we’re able to nest. Feeling protected and having a haven improves our wellbeing, and new sparks of energy and creativity awaken. Having a home ends living in a survival mode and transforms life into living. Shaiso’s resilience and new home will help her thrive.
Materials: Cane, cotton, leather label
