The Human-Animal Bond: A Lifeline for People Experiencing Homelessness

The human-animal bond is a powerful and enduring connection that transcends circumstances. For many people experiencing homelessness, their pets are not just companions; they are family. This bond is so strong that many individuals facing homelessness will choose to remain unsheltered rather than be separated from their beloved pets.

In 2024, homelessness in the U.S. reached a historic high. On a single night, 771,480 individuals were unhoused—an 18 percent increase from 2023, according to the HUD 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. It is estimated that one in three individuals experiencing homelessness has a pet, translating to more than 254,000 pets affected.

Shelter policies often prevent people, particularly those experiencing chronic homelessness and domestic violence, from entering shelters with their animal companions. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) is making significant efforts to advance low-barrier emergency shelter models in partnership with PetSmart Charities. They are developing the Keeping People and Pets Together resource, which aims to create more inclusive shelter environments.

NAEH has consulted various stakeholders, including Continuum of Care (CoC) leadership, homeless service providers, animal welfare organizations, and people experiencing homelessness who have pets. These consultations are crucial in determining policies and practices that can improve services for people experiencing homelessness with pets. While there is no empirical data yet on the number of unhoused people with pets, some CoCs have begun collecting data. If their numbers are indicative of national trends, approximately 10 percent of people experiencing homelessness do so with service animals, emotional support animals, or companion animals.

Evidence shows that animal companionship is fortifying and contributes to the emotional well-being of people experiencing homelessness. Pets can help their owners obtain sobriety, leave abusive relationships, and avoid incarceration.

Cohousing: The Importance of Pet-Friendly Shelters

Cohousing is a type of housing that ensures pets and people can stay together despite having emergency housing needs. This form of sheltering is a tenet of low-barrier facilities, which do not require people experiencing homelessness to separate from loved ones to access emergency housing. Cohousing can take different forms, including having a designated on-site animal housing area within an emergency sheltering facility. However, when possible, it is recommended that pets stay in the same room as their people to preserve the human-animal bond and reduce fears around losing the pet.

Unfortunately, much of the housing created in prior decades to provide a safety net for those experiencing emergency housing needs was not designed to accommodate pets. However, recent research has validated that by allowing pets, shelters remove a significant barrier to ensuring safe and stable housing. This research provides evidence that the availability of cohousing opportunities can save lives.

NAEH has developed the best practice guidance for creating and strengthening pet-friendly homeless services. This guidance can be used to assess current practices, adopt new approaches, improve organizational culture, and build the capacity of programs. One notable organization making strides in this area is Feeding Pets of the Homeless, the first national nonprofit providing pet food and emergency vet care to pets belonging to people experiencing homelessness.

Local Community Programs Supporting Unhoused Pet Owners

In Michigan, a variety of community programs are offered through Michigan Humane. They partner with various organizations through their Pet Pantry Program to offer free pet food and supplies around Southeastern Michigan. They also have One Health Clinics throughout the year to offer low-cost vet care opportunities. Michigan Humane’s Safety Net Foster Program places owned pets in temporary foster homes where they will be safe and cared for until they can be reunited with their families. This program, facilitated through adoption center locations in Detroit, Westland, and Sterling Heights, prevents unnecessary surrender and gives pet owners in crisis peace of mind knowing that their pet will be in good hands until they can be happily returned.

The P.E.T.S. Network is another emergency foster program in Grand Rapids that provides temporary emergency foster care for pets, offering peace of mind while people experiencing a housing crisis focus on their current situation.

Community Housing Network is committed to helping people experiencing homelessness and their pets in partnership with local rescues and shelters, but your support is needed to ensure that no pet–and no person who loves them–goes without help. This includes maintaining higher quality animal shelters, as well, to help perform essential services such as providing medical care for homeless pets. Learn more about how this works through Michigan’s Animal Welfare Fund managed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Animal Industry Division.

Communities can step up to help the humans and animals facing hardship. By supporting pet-friendly housing initiatives and community programs, we can make a significant difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and their beloved animal companions. Let’s work together to create a world where everyone has a safe place to call home, including our furry friends.