People and Animals Living Safely: Co-living with Pets in Shelter Settings Beyond Housing Conference January 17, 2020 Danielle Emery Jennifer White-Reid 1 Jenny Coffey
What to expect 1. The human-animal bond within the context of DV, family homelessness and trauma 2. Developing and launching the PALS program and the importance of community partnerships 3. Impact of the program on families and the shelter landscape for NYC survivors 2
About URI Provider in NYC for nearly 40 years • Serving vulnerable populations: survivors of • domestic violence, homeless families, individuals with developmental disabilities Robust DV programs, responding to a • multitude of needs in the NYC community. Shelter (legal, economic empowerment, PALS) • Abusive Partner Intervention Programs • Relationship Abuse Prevention Programs • 3
About Animal Haven A small animal welfare organization in New York City that • specializes in finding homes for abandoned dogs and cats Founded in 1967 -- the small staff is supported by an army of more • than 200 volunteers Recognized as an independent, managed intake program and • works to find new homes for every animal accepted no matter how long it takes Animals accepted are from local municipal shelters, national and • international partners, and dogs and cats surrendered directly by owners Programs include Adoptions, Veterinary Care, and Training and the • organization also includes an innovative community engagement program that has collaborated with more than 100 human service agencies to help vulnerable pet owners 4
DV in NYC In New York City: • 81,063 calls were made to the • NYC DV Hotline Over 65,855 clients visited the NYC • Family Justice Centers 111,300 intimate partner domestic • incident reports to the NYPD 2018 NYC Office to ENDGBV Fact Sheet: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ocdv/downloads/pdf/2018_ENDGBV_Fact_S 5 heet_rev.pdf
DV and Homelessness • DV accounted for more than 40 percent of the family population entering DHS shelters in 2018 • 12,541 people entered a DHS shelter due to DV • More than 4,500 women and 7,000 children (more than half (56 percent) of whom were five-years-old or younger) • The number of families leaving DV shelter and subsequently entering the DHS homeless shelter system increased every year between 2015 and 2018 "Housing Survivors" -- NYC Comptroller's Report: 6 https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/housing-survivors/
How do pets fit in? Estimated 1,000,000 pets in NYC • 68% of American households have a pet • 94% consider pets to be “part of the • family” Housing instability and poverty are common • factors in relinquishing animals to shelters. 7
Human-Animal Bond 8
Human-Animal Bond People will not leave pets behind in a time of crisis, • evidenced during natural disasters Pets provide physical, emotional and mental • health benefits For those who have experienced trauma, pets are • a source of stability and constancy 9
Innovations in Animal Welfare • Programs to keep people and pets together: • Community vaccine and spay neuter programs • Low-cost training and behavior resources • Food pantries stocking pet food • Advocating for pet-friendly housing • Short term boarding or foster programs • Opportunity for social work in traditional animal shelters 10
The "Link" • The ‘Link’ states that when there is violence in the home, everyone in a family is vulnerable or at risk. • Emotional attachment to pets is exploited by abusers • Physical Abuse • Intimidation • Financial Abuse • Denying and Minimizing • Isolation • Cross-training and reporting • Domestic violence, law enforcement, animal welfare, child and elder welfare 11
DV & Pets Approximately half – 48% – of domestic violence • victims report that they delayed leaving a difficult situation because they feared for the safety of their pet and knew of no place to take them. - Carlisle-Frank, Frank, & Nielsen (2004) According to a nationwide study, more than 70% of • pet owners who entered shelter reported that their abuser has threatened, injured or killed family pets. -Ascione (1997, 1998) 12
“Before entering shelter, I thought to myself that if I had to be separated from my kitties permanently, I would have to continue putting my life in danger …there was no way I would give up my boys.” – former PALS resident 13
Developing PALS Addressing a gap in services ... • Learning about the issue • Exploring the regulatory landscape • Researching the models already out there 14
Developing PALS Experts in human services, but no experience in housing animals... • Bringing in animal welfare partners • Focus groups with staff and residents • Creating policies and procedures 15
Launching PALS Putting plans into action … • Resident preparation • Staff training and sensitivity • Started small, where we were comfortable • No dedicated PALS staff in the beginning 16
PALS History 2013 2015 2016 PALS Launched at Retreat New Beginnings Safe Haven •PALS Coordinator •TOTAL: 37 Units •Manhattan •Brooklyn •Add dogs & other •Cats Only pets • TOTAL: 10 Units •TOTAL: 27 units 2017 2018 2019 Center for Restoration Change Residence Harmony House •Tier II •Bronx • TOTAL: 52 Units •Dedicated Singles • TOTAL: 66 units PALS Place •FULLY PET-FRIENDLY 17 •TOTAL: 174+ Units
PALS Place 18
PALS Families As of January 2020, PALS has welcomed nearly 200 PALS families with 275 pets: 112 13 118 18 5 5 3 DOGS S MALL CATS TURTLES FISH BIRDS REPTILES A NIMALS In addition, we have provided assistance and referrals to over 600 families to date. 19
I felt like I was holding my breath, and when we got into the PALS program I felt like I could exhale. It was a safe space where I could finally feel.” – Former PALS resident 20
• QUESTIONS? 21
Visit our websites www.urinyc.org/PALS https://animalhaven.org/ E-MAIL: PALSinfo@urinyc.org info@animalhaven.org 22
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