Together Through Homelessness offers hope to people in Brighton experiencing homelessness and their dogs

A homelessness charity, with a dog-friendly hostel in Brighton, has been endorsed under the Together Through Homelessness scheme. This endorsement is given to homelessness services which go the extra mile to help keep people experiencing homelessness and their dogs together.  
  
St Mungo’s aims to end homelessness and rebuild lives, running hostels and emergency accommodation, giving people the time and space they need to recover. In Brighton, thanks to its dog friendly policies, St Mungo’s hostel can support up to four dogs and three other pets at one time. Three residents currently have dogs and are supported by Dogs Trust through the free Together Through Homelessness vet scheme. 

 Abigail Owens and Michael Davies at St Mungo's Brighton
 
The accommodation is made up of 23 flats, with separate kitchens and living spaces, a perfect environment for someone transitioning to independent living with their dog. 
 
To ensure more people experiencing homelessness can stay with their pets, the Together Through Homelessness team at Dogs Trust supported St Mungo’s with implementing bespoke pet policies and an in-person consultation; the team also provided a starter pack of dog accessories, including dog beds, food, collars and leads.  
 
Alongside support in setting up the service, the Together Through Homelessness vet scheme is providing free vet care for all dogs living at the service going forward. 
 
Abigail Owens, Pets and Housing Senior Regional Engagement Officer at Dogs Trust said:

“For most dog owners, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from a family member. We don’t think anyone should have to choose between these essential services and their faithful friend, which is why we work with providers to offer dog friendly support. 
  
“It is great news that St Mungo’s is providing dog-friendly services for people experiencing homelessness in Brighton.” 
  

Remi Weremczuk, Service Manager at St Mungo’s said:

"We are delighted to welcome dogs into our hostels with their owners as we know just how important the bond between them is. Often a person's pet is their only support and their family, who they would never leave behind. 
  
“We look forward to our continued work with the Dog's Trust and thank them for the support thus far." 

In a recent survey of professionals supporting those experiencing homelessness, 70% told Dogs Trust that their clients had experienced barriers to accessing homelessness services because they have a dog.   
  
Further to this, 84% were aware of one or more cases where someone had refused an offer of temporary or emergency accommodation as it would have meant giving up their dog.   
  
Just 51% of the homelessness services that responded to the Dogs Trust survey said that their services were dog friendly.  
 
Our Together Through Homelessness project works directly with services to help them become dog friendly, offering bespoke support and ongoing advice on everything from dog-friendly policies to behaviour resources. The project also provides free veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, an online directory of dog-friendly homeless services in the UK and a Christmas parcel service. 
 
If you work for a homelessness service and are interested in our free endorsement on Together Through Homelessness, do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss how we can support you to become dog-friendly.