A pet-friendly homeless shelter pilot reduced the rate of homelessness among the people it helped in California

A pilot program in Los Angeles reduced the rate of homelessness among homeless people with pets.

By: Benjamin F. Henwood, University of Southern California, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 16, 2026

Words: 732

Last Updated: 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Benjamin F. Henwood, University of Southern California

When homeless shelters allow people to stay with their dogs and other pets, more unhoused people become more willing to stay in a shelter.

That’s what my team at the University of Southern California’s Homelessness Policy Research Institute learned when we evaluated California’s Pet Assistance and Support Program.

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development established this pilot program in 2019. Its goals were straightforward: …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Register for Free Log in

© 2025 Plucky Works LLC

Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
About
FAQ
Bootstrap Envelope Email Us
Plucky Works Logo