Tyne Housing hub to inform national policy on pet inclusion
A Newcastle centre for people experiencing homelessness is informing national policy, thanks to its best-practice approach to removing barriers for people with pets.
The Joseph Cowen Centre - which is owned and operated by Tyne Housing - is run in partnership with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Newcastle City Council, as a dedicated Wellbeing Community Hub for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Researchers from IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together) spoke to people using the centre to learn more about its approach to pet inclusion, and - having learned more about its welcoming approach - will use its work to inform the development of new policy guidelines to ensure people experiencing homelessness who have a pet are able to access the support they need.
The Joseph Cowen Centre operates as a drop-in support hub for people who are without a home, sleeping on the streets, or who may not be registered with a GP, offering a safe, welcoming space with access to primary healthcare and support services. Visitors to the centre can bring their four-legged companions, with pets warmly welcomed by the Tyne Wellbeing Team.
However, for many people looking to take steps to a better future, they often face barriers when it comes to securing a tenancy if they have a pet, as well as difficulty accessing healthcare and other support services where dogs are often not permitted.
Alex Anderson, who is an emotional resilience officer at Tyne Housing, has taken part in a number of interviews and focus groups with researchers who are shaping the new national policy framework, that will provide guidance to organisations like local authorities, health services and housing providers to ensure that people experiencing homelessness who happen to have a pet do not face barriers to support as a result.
She said: “For many people experiencing homelessness, having a pet can be a real source of comfort and connection, as well as giving them responsibility that can provide a vital sense of purpose. Pets can be like a social prescription for many people.
“But, in lots of cases, services – more often than not, inadvertently - create barriers for people with pets, that mean they cannot secure the support they need, whether that be restrictions on housing or access to healthcare services.
“Many of the people I support at Tyne talk about their pets being the reason they get up in the morning. Their pet might be the only contact they get all day. There are so many instances where pet ownership is a hugely positive thing for people experiencing homelessness, so we should be doing all we can as service providers to ensure that’s possible – to remove the blockers that mean people with pets are disadvantaged. And, of course, part of our commitment is to champion animal wellbeing, ensuring we promote positive pet care to visitors, to ensure pets have happy, healthy lives they deserve' too.”
Pet inclusion is something the team at Tyne Housing not only supports through its own work, but champions for others. The Joseph Cowen Centre will be held up as an example of best practice in IMPACT’s report that has informed policy guidance, with pets not only allowed but welcomed into the space, with a bowl of water and treats provided for canine companions.
The guidelines that are being shaped, informed by the research, will be developed over the coming months and shared with a range of organisations to offer a recommended approach for pet inclusion. The recent Renter’s Right Act reforms also include reference to pets, directing organisations to be mindful of reducing barriers to access when it comes to housing.
Alex added: “I hope this piece of work has national impact. There are plenty of places and organisations that want to support people experiencing homelessness but do so without really hearing their voices and knowing what matters to them. For so many people, their pets really are their family and their friends, and I hope – by showing what’s possible – we can help people across the UK get to a better place, with their pets too.”