After 19-year-old Samuel Haymon lost his job and was evicted from his home, he rejected a bed at a shelter for people experiencing homelessness because they told him his dog Mordex was not permitted. Having a strong bond, the man couldn’t bear to be without Mordex, who he’d raised from a puppy, saying, “He’s my son,” according to WILX News 10.
It’s circumstances just like this that show the dire need for shelters and resources aimed at helping unhoused people stay with their companion animals. One such California program has made it easier for thousands to enter shelters and move into permanent housing, according to a new evaluation from the University of Southern California’s (USC) Homelessness Policy Research Institute, as reported by The Conversation.
The state’s Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) Program, launched in 2019, provided shelters with funding to accept companion animals. This money helped shelters build kennels, offer veterinary care, supply food, and hire staff focused on assisting people with pets. According to the USC evaluation, the program served 4,407 people between 2020 and 2024 and helped 886 individuals move into permanent housing with their animals.
Much like Samuel Haymon with his dog Mordex, many unhoused individuals had avoided shelters because they were unwilling to abandon their dogs or other companion animals, USC researchers found. Providers interviewed for the study mentioned that PAS funding allowed them to reach people who had long remained outside due to rules against pets. The report indicated that the program “expanded access to previously unreachable clients,” with shelters seeing more trust and engagement when animals were allowed indoors.
The study also highlighted the importance of animals to unhoused people. Prior research cited in the report shows that companion animals can reduce loneliness, provide emotional support, and encourage people to seek housing. Many shelters still lack the space, staffing, or insurance coverage needed to safely accommodate animals, leaving pet guardians with limited choices.
Lady Freethinker applauds resources allowing companion animals to stay with their guardians and supporting the strong human-animal bond. If you haven’t already, please sign our petition urging U.S. lawmakers to support the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025, which would fund shelters nationwide to make pet-inclusive upgrades and provide veterinary services.
