RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Kerman, N., Lem, M., Witte, M., Kim, C., & Rhoades, H. (2020). A Multilevel Intervention Framework for Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness with Pets. Animals, 10(10): 1869.

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Approximately one in 10 people experiencing homelessness have pets. Despite pets having psychosocial benefits for their owners, pets can also present challenges for people experiencing homelessness related to meeting their basic needs and obtaining housing. This article proposes a framework of policy, public, and service interventions for improving the health and well-being of pet owners experiencing homelessness. At the policy level, the framework proposes an increase of pet-friendly emergency shelters, access to market rental housing and veterinary medicine, and the use of a Housing First approach. At the public level, educational interventions are needed to improve knowledge and reduce stigma about the relationship between homelessness and pet ownership. At the service delivery level, direct service providers can support pet owners experiencing homelessness by recognizing their strengths, connecting them to community services, being aware of the risks associated with pet loss, providing harm reduction strategies, documenting animals as emotional support animals, and engaging in advocacy. By targeting policies and service approaches that exacerbate the hardships faced by pet owners experiencing homelessness, the framework is a set of deliberate actions to better support this vulnerable group.

My Dog is My Home in collaboration with The Animals & Society Institute (ASI) used a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund® to explore and describe current approaches to “co-sheltering” of people experiencing homelessness with their companion animals. As recognition of the importance of the human-animal bond has grown, some homeless shelter providers are beginning to rethink their “no pets allowed” policies. Yet there is little documentation of co-sheltering strategies and even less information about the effectiveness of these efforts.

The aim of this project was to assess animal-friendly homeless shelters’ current approaches to handling animals accompanied by people experiencing homelessness, documenting challenges, key issues, and lessons learned. Our goal is to use the project findings to inform development of animal friendly policies and practices in homeless shelters nationwide, reducing the likelihood that animals will be relinquished simply because their caregivers are experiencing a period of homelessness. Further, the project intends to lay the groundwork for more intensive outcome-based research on the effects of such policies and practices on the well-being of pets and people alike.

This qualitative study of homeless service providers used a comparative case study approach to provide an in-depth understanding not only of the providers’ policies and practices, but also the context in which those strategies have been implemented, the rationale for the strategies, barriers to and facilitators of implementation, lessons learned, and clients’ perceptions of and experiences with them.

My Dog Is My Home is proud to have participated in a recently released report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness in partnership with PetSmart Charities.

The Keeping People and Pets Together resource will help devise policies and practices that can advance services for individuals experiencing homelessness with pets.