Homeless People who are Animal Caretakers: A Comparative Study

Cronley, Courtney; Strand, Elizabeth B.; Patterson, David A.; Gwaltney, S

doi:10.2466/pr0.105.2.481-499

Cited by 39 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Further, the failure to accommodate the needs of pet owners can deter some from seeking services or force them to relinquish their pets in exchange for shelter. Cronley et al (2009) found that 5.5% of the homeless population they surveyed reported that they did currently care for an animal. The challenges in addressing these needs within sheltering and service resources which are already at overcapacity, overburdened, under-resourced, and struggle to assist individuals who are homeless to meet their basic needs for survival are, however, considerable.…”

Section: Homeless Caretakers Of Companion Animalsmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Homeless Women's Voices on Incorporating Companion Animals into Shelter Services

Labrecque

Walsh

2011

Anthrozoös

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The literature examining the relationship between homeless individuals and companion animals is scarce. To date there are only five published studies, none of which explore this issue within a Canadian context or from the perspectives of women living in homeless shelters. The benefits of companion animals with respect to enhancing the psychological and physiological well-being of their owners have been well documented. This paper examines the nature of animal caretaking among female, homeless shelter residents in Canada. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 51 women from homeless shelters located in six urban centers across Canada (Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver) and two key informant interviews with homeless shelter administrators who facilitated space for animal companions. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis techniques. Homeless women described being comforted by companion animals and the pain of being forced to relinquish them. Most pet owners reported having to surrender a pet. Eight themes emerged regarding the role animals played in the lives of homeless women: (a) providing companionship, (b) unconditional acceptance, (c) providing comfort, (d) providing a sense of responsibility, (e) the health and therapeutic values of companion animals, (f) providing a sense of safety, (g) loss, as well as (h) empathy towards the homeless women sharing shelter space who may not share the affinity for animals or may have health consequences such as allergies. The majority of women supported shelter inclusion of companion animals, many suggesting a designated space for the animals that would accommodate the needs of those shelter residents who are allergic to, or fearful of animals, for example. Vulnerable women who are homeless recognize the therapeutic value of companion animals. Homeless shelters should consider the need to provide space to accommodate the animal companions of homeless individuals.

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Section: Homeless Caretakers Of Companion Animalsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The human-animal relationship is complex, comprised of benefits and liabilities (Cronley et al 2009). Pet ownership may affect a person's physiological and psychological health and, as psychological health is interrelated with physiological health, it is important to consider both (Allen et al 1991).…”

Section: Human-animal Bondmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homeless Women's Voices on Incorporating Companion Animals into Shelter Services

Labrecque

Walsh

2011

Anthrozoös

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“…Research suggests that pet ownership in the general population may confer a wide range of benefits for health and well-being [7-12]. An estimated 6-24% of homeless persons own pets [13, 14]. Among homeless persons, pet ownership can be a contentious issue, and the visibility of pet ownership in this population often results in homeless pet owners receiving negative comments about their ability and/or right to care for an animal [14].…”

Section: Summary Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pet Ownership Among Homeless Youth: Associations with Mental Health, Service Utilization and Housing Status

Rhoades

Winetrobe

Rice

2014

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

100

117

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As many as 25% of homeless persons have pets. To our knowledge, pet ownership has not been studied quantitatively with homeless youth. This study examined pet ownership among 398 homeless youth utilizing two Los Angeles drop-in centers. Twenty-three percent of homeless youth had a pet. The majority of pet owners reported that their pets kept them company and made them feel loved; nearly half reported that their pets made it more difficult to stay in a shelter. Pet owners reported fewer symptoms of depression and loneliness than their non-pet owning peers. Pet ownership was associated with decreased utilization of housing and job-finding services, and decreased likelihood of currently staying in a shelter. These findings elucidate many of the positive benefits of pet ownership for homeless youth, but importantly highlight that pet ownership may negatively impact housing options. Housing and other services must be sensitive to the needs of homeless youth with pets.

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“…The Ecology of Homelessness (Nooe & Patterson, 2010a), and a descriptive and comparative study of homeless animal care givers (Cronley, Strand, Patterson, & Gwaltney, 2009). KnoxHMIS researchers currently are engaged in two studies to evaluate two widely held community perceptions about the homeless population: (1) to what degree does permanent supportive housing influence positive psychosocial and behavioral changes?…”

Section: Research On Homelessnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Justice Manifest: A University–Community Partnership to Promote the Individual Right to Housing

Patterson

Cronley²,

West

et al. 2014

Journal of Social Work Education

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This article examines an ongoing university-community relationship that fuses innovative technology delivery, university-outreach research, and social work practice/research education into a unique, collaborative intervention to reduce homelessness. In doing so, we apply a social justice framework to homelessness, arguing that housing is a right rather than a privilege. In the case study, a university, in partnership with a local homeless coalition, maintains a management information system to collect and analyze real-time data on homelessness in the community. The overarching social justice intention of this partnership is to improve client outcomes for homeless individuals by producing community-based research to inform policy decisions for governmental and organizational partners.

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Homeless People who are Animal Caretakers: A Comparative Study

Cited by 39 publications

References 25 publications

Homeless Women's Voices on Incorporating Companion Animals into Shelter Services

Homeless Women's Voices on Incorporating Companion Animals into Shelter Services

Pet Ownership Among Homeless Youth: Associations with Mental Health, Service Utilization and Housing Status

Social Justice Manifest: A University–Community Partnership to Promote the Individual Right to Housing

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