Funding to California Homeless Shelters Allowed Them to Accept Pets

by Mary Simpson

Published: April 28th, 2026

Previously challenged to accommodate individuals with their pets, shelters are now equipped to take in animals too. While this encouraged shelter use, did it help reduce the numbers of pet owners living on the streets?

(photo credit: savitskaya iryna / shutterstock.com)

Understanding that a loving relationship with a dog or cat can be the only thing a person with no fixed address possesses, the Department of Housing and Community Development in California stepped in to find a way to keep that connection intact.

So, back in 2019, they introduced a pilot project that, between 2020 and 2024, provided over $15 million in funding to a large number of shelters that would allow them to build kennels and pet-friendly spaces while also providing free food and veterinary services to the four-legged buddies of those who had been previously living in the streets.

The goal? To encourage greater use of shelter facilities for those who need them most. You see, those smart people understood that when an unhoused person must choose between a shelter for themselves and having to give up their pet, the choice was obvious. As it would be to any of us. Our pet stays with us, even if we have to sleep rough.

Fast forward, and last year it was time to evaluate the results. Per Benjamin F. Henwood, Professor of Social Policy and Health at the University of Southern California, the numbers were promising. Working with the university’s Homeless Policy Research Institute and the non-profit, My Dog Is My Home, the stats showed that of the more than 4,400 people with pets who used the adapted shelters, almost 900 were able to find permanent housing. A number well above the state-wide average at the time. Success, right?

Well, there’s an interesting twist to it all. You see, while the stats were impressive, the number of unhoused pet owners living on the streets continued to increase. Now, this organization interviews thousands of individuals each year and back in 2019, they could confirm that roughly 1 in 8 of those they spoke with had pets with them. By 2025, despite the number of shelters that had adapted their facilities to allow for pets, that number had increased to 1 in 5.

You may wonder how a program can be both a success and not a success at the same time. Well, the researchers theorize that rising housing costs have forced many more pet owners out of their homes. And because they’re not willing to abandon their dogs, they have added to the number of those living on the streets with pets. Also true is that having a pet may be one way for those without an address to deal with their feelings of isolation. I mean, who better to talk to than an appreciative dog who thinks you’re the best?

From my standpoint, I’d throw in that the pandemic landed right in the middle of this research. During that period, animal shelters ran out of pets to adopt out, because everyone wanted a furry little critter to keep them company while they were isolated at home. If those individuals lost jobs or experienced income drops during that period, that may have exacerbated their financial situation and housing affordability.

The solution? According to Henwood, the research indicates that until more affordable housing stock is made available, the homeless population will continue to rise. Many may choose to keep their pets with them and it's for that reason, programs like the Pet Assistance and Support pilot – but on a much larger scale – will need to be implemented with federal unding allocated.

Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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