Keeping People and Pets Together: Understanding Sheltering with Pets

June 2025

I recently interviewed residents of an encampment that a local jurisdiction was planning to sweep. The city was offering encampment residents temporary shelter at a hotel, and after two years of living in the encampment and turning down previous offers of housing, one woman had finally accepted the housing offer.

I was curious what was different about this housing offer. Why was she accepting temporary

shelter now when she hadn’t in the past? “This time,” she explained, “they’re letting me take my dog.” The resident was talking about co-sheltering, a powerful strategy for helping people with pets seek shelter and begin a pathway to housing.

Co-Sheltering Policies Are Critical to Shelter Access

Many households include pets or companion animals – including households experiencing

homelessness. When shelter and services don’t accommodate pets, it creates a barrier to people becoming stably housed.

Research has shown that – understandably – individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness will refuse to live separated from their pets. In one case study, shelter residents reported that accommodation of pets was a critical factor in their decision to seek shelter. As such, when shelters are not prepared to accommodate pets, it creates a barrier to shelter.

In Los Angeles, California, 48% of people experiencing homelessness with pets reported being turned away from shelter because of pet policies. People will often choose not to seek emergency or temporary shelter if it will require them to abandon their pets.

Co-sheltering is the sheltering of people and animals together at the same emergency or

temporary housing facility. By adopting and advertising co-sheltering policies, shelters can

increase access for people experiencing homelessness with pets.

Small but Significant Demand

Pets of the Homeless estimates between 5 to 10% of people experiencing homelessness have companion animals, though it may be up to 24% in some parts of the country. Pet ownership occurs across all demographics, but is most common among youth, single women, and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

In a case study of shelters with co-sheltering policies, shelters reported that between 5 to 10% of their residents have animals with them in the shelter at any time. One shelter reported having 20 animals in a site accommodating 850 people. Shelters observed “it's not such an overwhelming need that the costs are so prohibitive that people shouldn't be considering it.”

Improving Outcomes for People and Pets

For vulnerable populations, animals provide significant psychological benefits to mitigate trauma and stress. Pets have the power to:

• Reduce stress and lower blood pressure,

• Deter high-risk behaviors and encourage sobriety,

• Promote a daily routine,

• Support positive self-identity and purpose,

• Provide protection and safety,

• Assist with the maintenance of stable relationships, and

• Serve as a source of courage and will to live.

Just as keeping people and pets together produces positive outcomes, separating them is harmful to both. Animals and humans experience stress and trauma when separated from their companions. Research and focus groups with individuals who have lived experience of

homelessness has shown that separating people from their pets in shelter can:

• Produce and worsen negative feelings like guilt, sadness, and loneliness,

• Increase substance use, and

• Intensify mental health symptoms.

When people experiencing homelessness can access shelter and services with their pets, they are able to take better care of themselves and their pets. In Napa County, California, 80% of shelter residents agreed or strongly agreed they were more likely to use shelter services due to co-sheltering policies. 100% of shelter residents agreed or strongly agreed that their pet’s physical health will improve due to co-sheltering policies.

Why Sheltering with Pets Matters – By the Numbers

48% of people experiencing homelessness with animals in Los Angeles, California reported being turned away from shelter because of pet policies.

98% of shelter residents in Napa County, California strongly agree they are more open to

applying for housing with their pet.

80% of shelter residents in Napa County, California agreed or strongly agreed they were more

likely to use shelter services due to co-sheltering policies.

81% of domestic violence survivors said that keeping their pets with them would be an extremely important factor in seeking shelter.

How Homebase Can Help

Do you work with an emergency and temporary housing facility considering co-sheltering?

Homebase’s new guide shares more information on navigating common concerns.

We’re here to help! Contact info@homebaseccc.org to talk about implementing co-sheltering in your community.

References

Homebase (2025, March 20). Reducing Barriers for People with Pets in Emergency Shelter.

California Peer Communities Call.

Irvine, L. (2012). Animals as Lifechangers and lifesavers. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 42(1).

Kim, C., Mostoller, S., Teel, D., & Bossert-Ocner, S. People Experiencing Homelessness with

Animals: A Review of Research and Emerging Social Services Response Guidelines.

Lunghofer, L., & Newton, E. (2020, April 20). Maddie’s Fund® Final Report Co-sheltering People and their Companion Animals: An Exploratory Study.

My Dog is My Home. Counting People Experiencing Homelessness with Animals: Using the PIT Count and HMIS as Tools.

National Alliance to End Homelessness and PetSmart Charities, Inc. (2020, March 12). Keeping people and pets together.

Rose Brooks Center in Bloom (2023, Nov. 11). Not Without My Pet.

By Kris Maun

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Kris Maun is a Senior Staff Attorney at Homebase