My Dog Is My Home, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the human-animal bond in circumstances of homelessness, is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its founding, featuring its beginning as an exhibition that drew upon the personal stories of human-animal families experiencing homelessness. 

This multi-location event will kick off with a Thanksgiving opening show in New York City. Other locations will include Los Angeles, California, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The celebration will showcase artwork from My Dog Is My Home's original exhibition and give voice to individuals who have experienced homelessness with a companion animal. At the event, NYC locals will share their stories and experiences of homelessness with their companion animals. Their experiences guide My Dog Is My Home’s work and inspire change.

As My Dog Is My Home continues to educate different stakeholders about the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets (PUPP) Act, we have been engaging faith communities to discuss the importance of how their congregants, spaces, and constituent voices can be contribute to an end to homelessness for people and animals alike.

Recently, team members of My Dog Is My Home were interviewed by Reverend Daniel Lawlor, Co-Director of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, about the PUPP Act and its connection to climate justice. Read the interview below.

Special guests from Representative Brad Wenstrup and Senator JD Vance’s Office attended the Open House to show support for keeping people and animals together in times of crisis

August 4, 2023

Cincinnati, OH: On August 4th, 2023 My Dog Is My Home, a non-profit that advocates for access to shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness with their companion animals, hosted a Co-Sheltering Collaborative Open House with Found House Interfaith Housing Network. Animal welfare organizations and homeless services providers came together to learn about Found House’s newly opened, fully pet-inclusive supportive housing program and Pet Support Program. Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02) and Senator JD Vance’s (R-OH) offices also attended the Open House to support pet-inclusive policies and programs.

The story of Scott and his dog Scout exemplifies why My Dog Is My Home is dedicated to preserving the human-animal bond during circumstances of homelessness and to ensuring that every family, regardless of its composition, has the right to shelter and housing. Scott’s journey with Scout began the moment the Labrador first opened his eyes and Scott said to him, “It’s you and me, buddy.” Scott would say these words to Scout every night and they became a promise that the two kept throughout their life together.

New Horizons is a nonprofit in Seattle, Washington with a mission to end homelessness, one young person at a time. They offer several programs to facilitate youth’s transition out of homelessness, including a shelter, drop-in center, case management, and job training. New Horizons’ services are animal-inclusive, allowing staff and participants to include their companion animals in all aspects of care. Rob Stewart, Executive Director of New Horizons in Seattle, Washington, sat down with My Dog Is My Home for an interview about the animal-inclusive services they provide to youth and young adult program participants.

The second post of our youth homelessness blog series summarizes the findings of several research studies of youth experiencing homelessness with their animal companions. Research demonstrates notable benefits of pet ownership for many youth experiencing homelessness, including significant physical and emotional support from their animal companions, particularly with youth who do not have access to safe and permanent shelter. Yet many youth experiencing homelessness with their animal companions also report significant barriers to accessing supportive services, such as shelter, housing, and employment due to “no pets allowed” rules.

On March 24, 2022 the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) issued their Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), providing instruction on how communities across the US can apply for $72 million to prevent and end homelessness. The YHDP is one of the first dedicated federal initiatives that funds permanent housing programs for youth, and focuses on building local coordinated systems for responding to youth homelessness.