First pet-friendly shelter for unhoused families opens in the Bronx

Pets are not immune to when their human owners experience homelessness. That’s why the Urban Resource Institute and New York City’s Department of Homeless Services teamed up to open New York City’s first pet-friendly dedicated shelter for families.

Located in the Bronx, Uplift Families Residence was unveiled Thursday as the first transitional housing facility that welcomes families experiencing homelessness along with their beloved pets. 

“Today we are taking an important step in our ongoing efforts to enhance city shelters as we

continue to raise the bar on our supports for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness,” said

Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park at a press conference for the unveiling. “This incredible project exemplifies the Adams Administration’s commitment to making vital investments in developing high quality shelters while giving our not-for-profit human services providers the opportunity to own the very shelters they operate.”

As part of its not-for-profit-owned shelter model, Uplift Families Residence gives provider-partners, in this case Urban Resource Institute, the opportunity to own the shelters they operate, including funding for purpose-built designed shelters that meet the unique needs of families experiencing homelessness.

With 161 purpose-built units and 587 beds, this residence marks a pivotal shift towards inclusivity and support for vulnerable families with pets. Five families will be able to live at Uplift with their pets in apartment-style units, marking a major expansion of Urban Resource Institute’s People and Animals Living Safely, or PALS, program, which has provided domestic violence survivors the opportunity to live with their pets since 2013. 

“Pets are part of the family. Moreover, we know from our research and a decade of the URI People and Animals Living Safely program – 50% of survivors would not leave an abusive home unless they could take their pet with them. Regardless of the reason, unhoused families need access to safe and stable temporary and permanent housing,” Nathaniel Fields, CEO of Urban Resource Institute said in a press release about the unveiling. “Being able to take their pet with them is critical in rebuilding their lives.” 

Since its inception, the program in partnership with the city’s Human Resources Administration has included pet-inclusive living in shelters for domestic violence survivors across the five boroughs. To date, the program has expanded to 11 shelters, serving approximately 600 families and 800 pets, with the current caseload of 70 families per night. In addition to offering a range of essential services to support both humans and their pets, PALS shelters include free veterinary and grooming services and safe outdoor recreation spaces. 

“Companion animals are family and families should be able to stay together, especially during some of the hardest times of their lives. Falling on hardship is one of the major reasons animals end up in shelters, and New York can lead the way by providing spaces where companions can stay with their guardians – which is currently limited,” said Allie Taylor, president of Voters for Animal Rights. Taylor added that the Uplift Families Residence will “help uplift the spirits of those experiencing homelessness” while keeping pets from the city’s already “overburdened shelter system.”

According to the Urban Resource Institute, pets are not permitted in Department of Homeless Services shelters, often deterring houseless individuals from seeking shelter. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the U.S., serving over 40,000 adults and youth each year across its 24 sites, Urban Resource Institute has prioritized recognizing the profound bond between individuals and their pets. In a 2021 study, the institute found that  50% of domestic violence victims indicated that they would not consider shelter for themselves without their pets. For unhoused individuals in New York City, pets are only allowed if they are considered emotional support or service animals. If neither, individuals must separate from their animals or seek shelter elsewhere. 

“Over the past decade, PALS has provided a lifeline for survivors, allowing them to heal alongside their beloved pets and empowering them to rebuild their lives free from violence,” said  said Danielle Emery, program director for the PALS program. “The success of PALS in domestic violence shelters demonstrates that this model can also be effectively implemented in homeless family shelters, ensuring that families experiencing homelessness can stay together with their pets, fostering a sense of safety, stability, and healing.” 

In accordance with the Urban Resource Institute’s trauma-informed approach which prioritizes holistic healing, the institute provides comprehensive services from case management, mental health support, counseling, advocacy, transportation assistance, childcare, and access to food pantries. The URI Economic Empowerment Program also provides residents with financial education, workforce training, resources for economic recovery and more. By piloting transitional homes that include housing and services to family pets, this approach aims to reach a larger scope of unhoused individuals, by creating safe spaces that meet the unique needs of struggling individuals. 

"Uplift represents a new era in homeless services, where families are not only provided with shelter but also the opportunity to stay together with their pets,” said Angela Thompson, vice president of Homeless Families Programs at Urban Resource Institute. “We recognize the profound impact pets have on the healing process and are committed to supporting families in their journey towards stability and self-sufficiency.”