$300,000 Funding Ensures Homeless Shelters Can Keep Pets and Their People Together

 Sacramento, California (January 27, 2026) – RedRover® is proud to announce the continuation of its Safe Housing Homeless Shelter Program, thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor! This grant helps RedRover to permanently expand its Safe Housing pilot program beyond supporting domestic violence shelters and animal shelters, and is another way to ensure the unhoused population can keep their beloved pets safe by their side.

A study by Randall Singer, Lynette Hart, and Lee Zasloff found that 93% of men and 96% of women said that they would not stay at a homeless shelter if pets were not allowed (Singer et al.,1995, Dilemmas Associated with Rehousing Homeless People Who Have Companion Animals).

John Thompson, Deep Roots family shelter executive director said, “Becoming pet-friendly has changed everything for Deep Roots family shelter. In the winter of 2023, we met a mother and her two children living in a tent in the woods with their dog. When we offered them shelter, they said no, not without our dog. At that moment, our hearts broke because we understood their choice, but we could not help them the way they needed. Thanks to RedRover, that story now has a different ending. Today, no family has to choose between safety and love. Because of this support, we can say yes to the whole family, and that has brought healing, dignity, and hope to the very core of our mission.”

The program offers Safe Housing grants of up to $60,000 for U.S. homeless shelters to start a pet-friendly program. The funds can be used for building, renovations, and pet care supplies, with limited funds available for veterinary care, transportation, and more.

RedRover President and CEO, Katie Campbell, said, “We’re thrilled we can offer Safe Housing grants to homeless shelters on a continual basis now. The bond between a pet and their person is amplified even more when the pet is likely their only form of comfort and security. Our grants allow shelters to create pet programs for the most vulnerable, and ensure they keep families together.”

The Safe Housing grant application deadlines are March 1, June 1, and September 1. To learn more, visit: RedRover.org/SafeHousing.

Pets and Homelessness:

• It has been estimated that as many as 3.5 million people experience homelessness per year and as many as 25% of them have pets.
• Non-pet-friendly shelters force people to choose between their pets and supportive services.

In 2019, RedRover created the collaborative Don’t Forget The Pets (DFTP) training program with Greater Good Charities (GGC) to support organizations facing barriers that prevent them from creating pet housing programs. While the primary audience has been domestic violence shelters and animal welfare organizations, this past year 8.8% of attendees are from homeless shelters. In 2021, the DFTP training expanded into a comprehensive website and coaching program, and even more homeless shelter advocates are taking the training and enrolled into the coaching program.