CO-SHELTERING COLLABORATIVE HISTORY
HOW IT STARTED

The Co-Sheltering Collaborative was launched in July 2018 as a pilot initiative, initially limited to a small, invitation-only group of organizations. Since its pilot year, the Collaborative has grown and evolved, now welcoming anyone who shares the vision of creating equitable access to shelter and housing for all families, including those with furry, feathered, and scaled members.
Our work stems from a pressing need: human-animal families in housing crises are often turned away from social services due to restrictive “no pets allowed” policies. The Co-Sheltering Collaborative was formed to challenge this norm and to demonstrate that accommodating human-animal families in homeless services is not only necessary but entirely possible.
Through a national community of homeless service providers, government organizations, and advocates, we strive to share expertise, promote innovative programs, and inspire a paradigm shift toward inclusive sheltering practices. Our members engage in dialogue, refine co-sheltering methods, and collaborate to create a roadmap for making co-sheltering a standard part of homeless services.
THE LEAD AGENCY

My Dog Is My Home's mission is to increase access to shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness with companion animals. By securing their ability to maintain their most important relationships and find adequate shelter, we ensure every family’s right to build a home.
By using a capacity building approach, we promote the creation of systematic, macro-level responses to homelessness and animal companionship.
Go to My Dog Is My Home's website.
WORKING GROUP HISTORY
From the very beginning, the Co-Sheltering Collaborative has relied on working groups to address critical challenges faced by our community.
These groups bring together dedicated advocates who are committed to creating meaningful change for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with their pets. Through co-sheltering and broader initiatives, they work collectively to drive progress and amplify solutions.
The original working groups:
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The Racial Justice Working Group (Ongoing):
Developed to advance racial justice and uphold the
principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. -
SOPs & Evaluation: Focused on identifying best practices for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness with their companion animals in the same facility.
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COVID-19 Guidelines: An emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic that helped create new protocols for temporary and emergency housing.
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Staff Training: Aimed to develop resources and training content for staff, covering emotional support animals, the human-animal bond, and co-sheltering.