As a 20 year old girl who was thrown out of foster care at 18 and told I was making myself “intentionally” homeless because I refused accommodation that didn’t accept my dog, I found it emotionally exhausting to have to go through the same thing again when I was 19 (turning 20) after my lovely home was infested with rats.
I was at risk of weils disease due to rats dying in my property and my dog and ferret were at risk of ingesting the rat poison that was in my property. 
I was officially homeless in July of 2022 and as I write this on the 30th november I am still homeless due to housing not completing the work on my property and the council telling me I am making myself “intentionally homeless” due to not accepting their offers of emergency accommodation that is not pet friendly. 

Between July and December 2022 I have slept in a shipping container, a friends car, on the street and now I am sofa surfing on friends sofas to enable me and the dog to have a safe place to sleep. 

As a careleaver this is unacceptable, 

As a, just turned, 20 year old this is unacceptable, 

As a vulnerable human who suffers with their mental health, this is unacceptable. 

Yet I remain homeless because I chose to stick by my dog who has saved my life when my mental health was so low that I tried to take my own life. 

My dog won’t litter, or graffiti, or vandalise property. He won’t breach the peace or fight with his neighbours. My dog isn’t a nuisance, he is friendly, quiet and brightens up the days of the people he meets. You couldn’t say this about lots of humans? Yet a dog is not a priority to be housed when their owner is made homeless. 

I want to change this. 

Animal charities nationally are seeing an increase in people having to abandon their beloved pets due to becoming homeless, the cost of living crisis and not being able to find somewhere pet friendly. 
The NHS and mental health services have concrete evidence to suggest that animals are a great method of support for those struggling with their mental health. 

Why do animals become a barrier to finding somewhere to live when it comes to housing? 

I would like a law to be passed that allows emergency accommodation for those who are homeless, struggling with their mental health or fleeing domestic violence to be suitable for pets. There should also be support in place to help feed and meet the needs of these animals until their owners get back on their feet, this should not include separating the pets from their owners. The same laws that apply to people who have children. 

With the cost of living crisis a main contributing factor, now is the time to support people and their furry friends.

The government has a duty of care to its people and their pets!