AWI Awards Safe Havens for Pets Grant to Support Unhoused People and Pets in DC aalberg Mon, 10/06/2025 - 11:13 photo by kerkezz October 6, 2025 Washington, DC—This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce a $15,000 grant to the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) to support pet owners experiencing domestic violence and homelessness in Washington, DC.The grant, funded through AWI’s Safe Havens for Pets initiative, will support HRA’s Safe Haven Program, which assists domestic violence survivors by providing temporary placement for their pets so that they can seek safety themselves. The grant will also help the organization expand its services to assist unhoused individuals with pets, filling a critical resource gap for those experiencing homelessness with a companion animal in the nation’s capital.AWI, a DC-based national nonprofit, launched the Safe Havens for Pets initiative in 2011 as an online database to help domestic violence survivors in the United States find sheltering resources for their companion animals. Earlier this year, it expanded the database to include sheltering services for unhoused individuals with pets; the Safe Havens for Pets directory now contains more than 1,200 listings across all 50 states. AWI, however, could not identify a single resource in DC for unhoused individuals seeking shelter with their companion animals.“It is our hope that this grant will enable the Humane Rescue Alliance to further its important work protecting animals and helping local families in crisis,” said Claire Coughlin, director of AWI’s Companion Animals Program. “No one should have to make the impossible choice of leaving a pet behind when seeking shelter and safety. The Animal Welfare Institute is proud to support HRA’s efforts to fill this critical resource gap and assist people and their companion animals right here in DC.”Sadly, animal cruelty, domestic violence, and homelessness are often interconnected. In fact, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women, and the very real threat of violence to companion animals only exacerbates the crisis. Nearly half of National Domestic Violence Hotline callers report being worried that their abuser would harm or kill their pets, while 97 percent state that keeping their pets with them is an important factor in deciding whether to seek shelter. When appropriate resources are absent, survivors with companion animals are that much more likely to end up unhoused, pets in tow.For individuals experiencing homelessness in DC with pets, help is urgently needed. A directive to “fight[...] vagrancy” and clear encampments in the city—included in an executive order issued by the White House in July—could severely impact resource availability. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, there are more than 5,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in DC. Among these are adults with families, nearly half of whom say they have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence at some point in their lives. More than three-quarters of this latter group, in fact, indicate that it directly led to their current episode of homelessness. Local safe haven resources are essential for supporting survivors and their family members—companion animals included.“For people in crisis, a pet is often a lifeline—a source of unconditional love, nonjudgmental support, and, most importantly, family. But there are still no pet-friendly domestic violence or homelessness shelters in DC, forcing people to choose between safety and the animals they love,” said Kelly Whittier, director of public affairs at HRA. “With AWI’s support, we can break down the practical, prohibitive, and costly barriers to both temporary and permanent shelter by covering veterinary care, vaccinations, emergency boarding, and even short-term pet-friendly hotel stays so people and pets can stay together when they need each other most. As winter approaches, this work becomes even more urgent. Until the District creates pet-friendly shelter options, this grant helps ensure that no one is left behind.”Learn more about housing insecurity with pets and AWI’s work to support people and pets in crisis. To locate a safe haven near you, visit safehavensforpets.org. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.