Finding housing that allows pets can be difficult. We suggest researching pet-friendly apartments/rental agencies as soon as possible. In some states, victim compensation funds can be used to cover the cost of a pet deposit. If that is not available in your area, that may be something you can plan on including in your fundraising efforts for the program. A small portion of the Safe Housing grant may be used toward pet deposits.

If there is cause, helping your clients to get their animal prescribed as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) can help with housing. ESAs are covered under the Fair Housing Act, though they do not have all the same protections as Service Animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Here is a website with information on ESAs. While they do offer a fee based service, they also have a lot of useful information available without having to apply for an ESA letter. If you do not have a therapist able to prescribe an ESA, they have therapists who review applications and will write an ESA letter if they believe that the applicant’s situation qualifies. If not, the fee is refunded.