DHS launches pilot program with Urban Resource Institute to shelter homeless New Yorkers along with their pets

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) For ten years, the Urban Resource Institute has been providing a vital service for domestic violence survivors in New York City who have pets, by allowing them to bring their pet to a city shelter. In all, 600 people and 800 pets have been helped over a decade.

That project is now expanding, as URI teams with the New York City Department of Homeless services on a yearlong pilot program that will allow a number of homeless New Yorkers to do the same.

The program will begin with five families and their pets to be sheltered in apartment-style units in the Bronx.

"We don't want to break up the family," Fields told 1010 WINS. Often when we do that, pets will have to be boarded or to a shelter. Those outcomes aren't always great and are more expensive. We want to be able to learn from our one year pilot to inform the direction of the city in terms of understanding how big the issue is and how to accomodate, safely, pets and people in a homeless shelter."

Just like with PALS, or the People & Animals Living Safely Program, URI CEO Nathaniel Fields told 1010 WINS, recipients will not only receive services for themselves, but will also get pet food, veterinary, grooming services and other assistance for their pet.

Learn more about either receiving services or making a donation to support this program HERE .