TO: Gilbert Taylor Commissioner Department of Homeless Services NYC
FROM: Desire Menendez
RE: Improving the shelter system in NYC to allow Persons and their Pets Shelter in a
time of need
DATE: 2/15/15
Problem Memorandum
Homelessness not only affects human beings, but also affects the animals that they care
for. Homelessness is a complex issue that has not only become a citywide, but also a
nation wide concern. Often defined as a state in which people are excluded from basic
shelter, but are also excluded from security, a place to belong, intimate relationships,
neighbors, and a place to call their owni. Other states have taken the lead in addressing
the issue of human homelessness and the correlation of pet ownership. Currently New
York City has only one human shelter that allows people to bring their beloved pets with
them. The only shelter available in New City opened in 2013ii, which allows survivors of
domestic abuse to seek shelter with their family pets. This still however is not enough to
accommodate those, who because of varying circumstances have to choose between
keeping their companions and finding a place to sleep.
Every night our city’s shelters house over 60 thousand people a nightiii. Those numbers
only account for the ones that seek shelter, and not the ones that sleep in parks, sleep in
train stations, or in any corner in order to feel safe. The condition of being homeless
sometimes is by no fault of the person in that situation and can sometimes be transient. In
that process people have to relinquish ownership up their beloved pets because of not
being able to have them seek shelter with them, thus increasing the amount of animals
that are taken into city shelters and are humanely euthanized.
Currently pet ownership has tripled since 1970, climbing up to a staggering 164 million
iv
pets that are owned throughout the nation consisting of cats and dogs. In New York City
pet ownership encompasses about 60 % of the national average at 1.1 million pets that are
owned v. In these numbers, 95% of pet owners regarded their pets as family vi. Although
intake numbers at the city shelters have decreased, mostly through the use of surrender
intervention programs, there were over 30, 000 animals taken into the city shelter last
year, 8,666 of those being animal surrendersvii
Homelessness itself can sometimes be attributed to mental diseases, another nation wide
issue that should be addressed. In a study published by the British Journal of
Occupational Therapy it was found that animal companionship played a role in
physiological health by reducing stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness; afflictions
that often trouble people in a homeless stateviii. Having to give up a pet that already helps
with these social issues is detrimental to the well being of these persons. It has been
found that people with mental illness felt that owning a pet allowed them to feel a sense
of responsibility and community without having to deal with the complexities of human
relationship dynamics ix
The issues facing the homeless are not limited to mental disease, but can also be
attributed to housing that is pet friendly. It has been shown that people relinquish their
pets into the city shelters because of landlord issues, which sometimes end in people
becoming evicted. Another reason is domestic abuse. In a study conducted 48 % of
people in a domestic abuse situation chose to stay because they feared for the well being
of their pet if they leftx.
Although there are resources for people to board their pets in the city and organizations
that are willing to help, it is difficult for a person who already has limited means to seek
these resources. Boarding facilities are sometimes very costly, have limited space and are
not always convenient for people to access. There is also an issue with advocacy for
groups that do have the resources to help.
As you can see there is a great need to address the issue of human homelessness and its
correlation to companion animal ownership. The availability of shelter for these people
has to be addressed. With over 20 city shelters, most of which accommodate families,
and only one that accommodates pets, there is a housing desert for those with companion
animals.
Zimalag, TKrupa. Pet ownership as a meaningful community occupation for people
with serious mental illness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(2), 12637
ii
URI People and Animals Living Safely (URIPALS). Urban Resource Institute.
http://urinyc.org/domestic-violence/pals/
i
Number of Homeless people in NYC each night November 2014. Coalition for the
homeless. http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/the-catastrophe-ofhomelessness/facts-about-homelessness/
iv Pets by the numbers. The Humane Society of the United States.
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/pet_ownership_s
tatistics.html
v New York City’s Pet population. New York City Economic Development
Corportation. http://www.nycedc.com/blog-entry/new-york-city-s-pet-population
vi Homelessness and companion animals: more than just a pet? British Journal of
Occupational Therapy. August 2012 75(8), 378
vii Annual Asilomar Report. Animal Care and Control NYC. 2014
viii Homelessness and companion animals: more than just a pet? British Journal of
Occupational Therapy. August 2012 75(8) ,379
ix Ibid., pg. 379
x
URI People and Animals Living Safely (URIPALS). Urban Resource Institute.
http://urinyc.org/domestic-violence/pals/
iii