Fostering pets to help end homelessness

With the theme 'ending homelessness together', City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp today announced $700,000 in homelessness grants for eight projects to help people who are homeless and or sleeping rough.

"This is about taking action now to address homelessness in Melbourne," the Lord Mayor said.

"Melbourne is a caring city and collaboration is key to ensuring the right services for people sleeping rough are provided. That's why we're giving grants for eight projects that will help people in need in a range of ways, for example, ensuring patients who are homeless have a safe place to stay when discharged from hospital."

The grants have been provided via a contribution from the City of Melbourne to the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation to establish the Good Giving Account - Pathways Innovation Fund.

Pet foster care program Pets of the Homeless is another grant recipient. Founded by Yvonne Hong, the program is jointly delivered with Launch Housing and Port Phillip Animal Hospital.

"For many pet owners, being forced to give up their beloved four-legged companion to take up short-term housing is a non-negotiable and some people would rather choose to remain sleeping on the streets than be separated from their pet," the Lord Mayor said.

Councillor Beverley Pinder, Chair of the People City portfolio said while pets provide companionship and support, having a pet can also make it more difficult for people to secure long-term housing.

"Pets of the Homeless reassures people who are homeless that their pets are taken care of, enabling them to focus on finding appropriate long-term accommodation," Cr Pinder said.

Ms Hong said for many people who are homeless or in a crisis situation, being forced to give up their pet is a traumatic experience.

"This program is an innovative solution that provides another pathway out of homelessness. It can change someone's decision to accept short term housing, all the while knowing that their pet is going to be looked after by a foster carer," Ms Hong said.

The Pathways Innovation Fund provided a $50,000 grant for Pets of the Homeless to support people who own a pet and are either homeless or facing homelessness. Launch Housing refers the person seeking accommodation to Pets of the Homeless, who then works with Port Phillip Animal Hospital.

Each animal receives a health check, is vaccinated and desexed and placed into temporary foster care.

Other grants funded through the Pathways Innovation Fund are:

Peer support resettlement program - by Council to Homeless Persons, a pilot peer support program for people who have secured permanent housing after being homeless.Health and housing outcomes for people through coordinated care - by Melbourne Health, aims to ensure patients who are homeless have a safe place to go when discharged from hospital. Sleeping rough harm minimisation program - by cohealth, aims to reduce the health, safety and legal risks that people face when rough sleeping. Connecting and reconnecting through the senses – by cohealth, works with people to build skills that will help them better manage their own health, allowing them to take care of themselves, their homes and participate in community life.Women against homelessness - by cohealth, helping women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness build on their physical and mental health and improve self-esteem and confidence.Over 50s pop out – by Wintringham, aims to help rough sleepers aged over 50 to visit and tour Wintringham housing sites, helping them to overcome fears and assist in the decision to exit rough sleepingLGBTIQ inclusive training tools for homelessness and housing actors – by Council to Homeless Persons, works directly with homelessness services and real estate agencies to help them become more LGBTIQ inclusive.