California Department of Housing and Community Development Awards $4.75 Million to Homeless Shelters to Provide Shelter, Food, and Basic Veterinary Services for Pets Owned by Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded $4.75 million to homeless shelters throughout California from the Pet Assistance and Support program. This funding provides shelter, food, and basic veterinary services for pets owned by individuals experiencing homelessness, along with the staffing and liability insurance necessary to provide those services. This program was authorized by the 2019 Budget Act (amended by Section 16 of Senate Bill 109).
“Pets provide comfort, companionship, and even protection. To many people, pets are considered loyal family members,” said HCD Director, Gustavo Velasquez. “Thanks to this program, pet owners who are experiencing homelessness no longer have to choose between keeping their companion or having a safe place to lay their head at night.”
These awards follow the launch of Governor Newsom’s latest homelessness initiatives, including new programs and funding in response to the COVID-19 health emergency. Project Roomkey places individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels, motels, and trailers and provides additional funding to local governments and Continuums of Care (regional or local planning bodies that coordinate housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals) for shelter support. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order putting a temporary hold on evictions for renters affected by COVID-19 and reached an agreement with financial institutions to give relief options for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage.
For additional information, visit the Pet Assistance and Support program webpage or email PetAssistanceSupport@hcd.ca.gov.
Pet Assistance and Support Program Funding Awards
$4.75 Million Awarded – June 1, 2020
| Project Sponsor | Project Name | City | County | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Community Transformations | Connections Emergency Shelter | Mariposa | Mariposa | $150,857 |
| Foothill House of Hospitality dba "Hospitality House" | Utah’s Place | Grass Valley | Nevada | $198,540 |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army Anaheim Emergency Shelter Pet Assistance Support Program | Anaheim | Orange | $176,800 |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army Bell Shelter Pet Assistance and Support Program | Bell | Los Angeles | $200,000 |
| Alliance for Community Transformations | Mountain Crisis Services | Mariposa | Mariposa | $105,777 |
| Illumination Foundation | Critter Companion Care at La Mesa | Anaheim | Orange | $200,000 |
| Illumination Foundation | Critter Companion Care at Fullerton Shelter | Fullerton | Orange | $200,000 |
| Retraining the Village | Pet Par | Madera | Madera | $196,507 |
| Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation | Betty's Blue Angel Village | Eureka | Humboldt | $200,000 |
| Five Keys Schools and Programs | Five Keys' PET SERVICES at Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center (a.k.a. "Em-BARK-adero") | San Francisco | San Francisco | $197,000 |
| Five Keys Schools and Programs | Five Keys' PET SERVICES at Bayshore Navigation Center (a.k.a. "Bark-shore") | San Francisco | San Francisco | $197,000 |
| Volunteers of America Los Angeles- Pomona Hope for Home Services Center | Pomona Hope for Home Services Center | Pomona | Los Angeles | $199,000 |
| County of Santa Barbara Behavioral Wellness Department | Navigation Respite Center | Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | $193,082 |
| People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) | PATH: A Bridge Home – The Sunset Shelter | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $199,952 |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa | Family Support Center Pet Assistant Project | Santa Rosa | Sonoma | $200,000 |
| County of Kern | Kern County Navigation Center | Bakersfield | Kern | $130,152 |
| Contra Costa County Health, Housing & Homeless Services | Concord Shelter Pet Assistance and Support Integration | Concord | Contra Costa | $174,388 |
| Testimonial Community Love Center | Testimonial Community Love Center Pet Assistance Program | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $174,388 |
| St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. (dba Father Joe's Villages) | Father Joe's Villages' Paul Mirabile Center Interim Housing Shelter | San Diego | San Diego | $174,388 |
| St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. (dba Father Joe's Villages) | Father Joe’s Villages’ Joan Kroc Center Housing Programs | San Diego | San Diego | $174,388 |
| HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County | BRC Animal Support Services | San Jose | Santa Clara | $174,388 |
| County of Monterey | Salinas Homeless Shelter | Salinas | Monterey | $100,000 |
| County of Orange | Yale Transition Center | Santa Ana | Orange | $149,898 |
| SHELTER Solano, Inc. | SHELTER Solano | Fairfield | Solano | $100,000 |
| Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission | Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission - A Bridge Home (North Hollywood) | North Hollywood | Los Angeles | $200,000 |
| Mercy House Living Centers | The HomeAid Family CareCenter | Orange | Orange | $143,892 |
| Mercy House Living Centers | The Arch | Ventura | Ventura | $122,461 |
| Mercy House Living Centers | Bellflower Emergency Services Shelter | Bellflower | Los Angeles | $117,142 |
| Total | $4,750,000 |