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New recommendations for pet‑inclusive homelessness services highlighted in Parliament

New research from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) has led to the development of recommendations to support the inclusion of pets in temporary accommodation.

The work was shared at a Parliamentary event on Tuesday 19 May, which brought together MPs, campaigners, researchers and animal welfare experts to highlight the growing number of people being forced to choose between accommodation or their pet.

The ‘No One Left Outside’ event organised by Street Paws CEO, Michelle Southern MBE, was hosted by Irene Campbell MP and included speeches from actor and activist Peter Egan, behavioural expert Andrew Hale of Pet Remedy and Dr Mackenzie Fong from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria. It was also supported by Ian Lavery MP.

The ‘No One Left Outside’ campaign led by the Street Paws charity is calling for the UK Government to write pet-inclusive support into homelessness and housing policy so that people and their pets can stay together in shelters and temporary accommodation.

Choosing between a home and a pet

It is estimated that up to 25% of people experiencing homelessness in the UK have a companion animal, most commonly a dog. For many, pets are a lifeline, providing unconditional love, emotional support and stability at a time of heightened vulnerability and stress.

However, access to pet‑inclusive accommodation remains limited, with only around 1 in 5 accommodation services in England accepting pets. This creates a significant barrier to accessing shelter and forces many people to choose between a safe place to stay and keeping their pet.

In these circumstances many pet owners refuse shelter, which can prolong homelessness and cause significant emotional harm, deteriorating wellbeing and health, leading to higher longer-term costs to the health and social care sector.

Research study underpins new recommendations

Researcher Dr Mackenzie Fong from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria attended the event to present new research that sets out how pet-inclusion in temporary accommodation can be managed in a realistic way. The research was funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies.

The study involved interviews with people with lived experience of homelessness with and without pets, as well as staff from homelessness services, including service staff and commissioners.

Emotional distress 

The research found that people with pets often faced distress when seeking housing, describing dismissive treatment and the trauma of being asked to give up their animals. Significant shortages across all types of accommodation, from emergency to ‘move-on’ housing, made pet‑inclusive housing even harder to access.

When people couldn’t access pet-inclusive housing, they were forced to make impossible decisions: surrender their pets or sleep rough longer than they otherwise would, both of which harmed both human and animal welfare.

Who decides?

Decisions about pet‑inclusion were often shaped by assumptions and views held by decision makers. This meant that accessing pet-inclusive housing depended on luck or a single supportive staff member, rather than policy or need.

People and pets together in housing

Participants in the study felt that pets acted as social connectors, reducing isolation and strengthening relationships between residents. Service staff felt that keeping people with their pets improved wellbeing and helped people engage with support services. Staff consistently reported that preconceived issues hardly materialised and those that did were minor and manageable.

Although many buildings were assumed to be unfit for pets, evidence from the study showed that pets could be safely accommodated with pragmatic policy, safety management, partnership with veterinary/animal welfare organisations, and trained staff.

Recommendations for change

The work has led to the development of five key recommendations to improve real world policy and practice.

• Pet-inclusion by default

Making pet inclusion the starting point, not the exception, especially in emergency and first-line accommodation. People should only be separated from their pets where there is a clear, documented risk, not because of blanket rules or assumptions.

This small shift reframes pets as an integral part of trauma-informed, person-centred care. It recognises that pets are often central to people’s safety, stability, and willingness to engage with services.

• Set clear minimum standards for pet-inclusive shared housing

Defining minimum standards, such as outdoor access, containment, and use of communal spaces, would reduce risk, improve consistency, and support safe pet-inclusive practice across the sector.

• Collaborate with specialist external organisations

Partnerships should be embedded into commissioning and service design, so that animal welfare support is routine, not exceptional.

• Training for frontline staff

Training in pet-inclusive, trauma-informed practice would build confidence, reduce risk aversion, and ensure staff know how to access veterinary and welfare support when needed.

• Share what works and challenge myths

Many of the barriers identified in the research were based on assumptions, not evidence. To counter apprehension and misinformation, policy makers and providers should actively support communities of practice and spaces where services can share real-world learning, challenges, and successes.

‘No one should have to decide between their pet and shelter’

Lead researcher Dr Mackenzie Fong said: “Our research has shown that with the appropriate measures in place, accommodation services can be pet-inclusive and respect the needs and wellbeing of residents, staff and animals. By promoting the support available to housing providers to implement pet-inclusive policies we hope to ultimately improve homelessness accommodation provision for people with pets. No one should have to decide between their pet and shelter.

“This is needed now more than ever as more people, including those with pets, are likely to become homeless in the UK in the current economic climate.”

Turning research into action

The team has secured funding from IMPACT, the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, to translate these findings into real‑world change. This work will include the development of a co-designed policy template for local authorities and a film showcasing effective pet‑inclusive practice.

More about the ‘No One Left Outside’ campaign

Street Paws is a UK charity supporting people experiencing homelessness and hardship alongside their pets. The organisation provides outreach support, veterinary assistance, pet supplies and advocacy work aimed at improving access to services for people with companion animals.

The charity’s ‘No One Left Outside’ campaign is currently encouraging public support through awareness campaigns and a UK Parliament petition. The petition closes on 14 July 2026.

You can sign the petition here.

Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies.

The study was delivered in partnership with pet charities Street Paws, StreetVet, The Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness, and Vet Partners UK.

The study has also been supported by IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together) –the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care.

Dr Mackenzie Fong was supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria when she conducted this study.

Image: Used with permission from the Centre for Homelessness Impact

Pictured: Damian Margetts, 34, served in the Royal Logistic Corps before facing personal losses that led to complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety. His 7-year-old dog, Elsa, serves as his lifeline through periods of homelessness and mental health struggles. Despite support from organisations like the British Legion and Combat Stress, Damien navigates temporary housing, relying on Elsa’s companionship to cope with challenges.