Bishopbridge House and Community Housing, two services St Martins have been endorsed as dog-friendly by the Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness scheme.
No one should be forced to choose between their dog and a safe place to sleep, but many people experiencing homelessness are faced with that decision, as many shelters are not pet-friendly. The two newly endorsed services are committed to supporting people experiencing homelessness and protecting the special bond between dog and owner.
Bishopbridge House offers emergency, 24/7 accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, with access to specialist support such as healthcare and recovery services. Community Housing provides second-stage support in shared houses, helping residents transition to independent living. Both services include communal facilities and outdoor spaces, creating a stable environment for residents and their pets.
These special endorsements, by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest canine welfare charity, are given to services that go above and beyond to help people, and their dogs stay together, which highlights the brilliant work done by St Martins across the city.
Abigail Owens, Senior Regional Engagement Officer at Dogs Trust, said, “I thoroughly enjoyed my visits to St Martins Bishopbridge House and Community Homes as part of the endorsement process. It is a welcoming and supportive environment that is inclusive to all, and it’s clear that the staff are very caring and compassionate. St Martins describes itself as ‘more than a temporary home, it is a base from which you can build your future’ I do not doubt that the dogs they welcome will be very happy living there.”
St Martins Chief Executive Dr Jan Sheldon said, “We support people to rebuild their lives, often after traumatic experiences, and our ability to accommodate someone to live with their pet might be the most important factor in their decision to come in off the streets. St Martins has a range of services in Norwich – not all are suitable for dogs, but where somebody already owns a dog, we try our hardest to provide the housing and support they need so they and their pet have somewhere secure to live as they rebuild their lives.”
St Martins’ dog-friendly services make a big difference to those experiencing homelessness in Norwich. In a recent survey of professionals supporting those experiencing homelessness, 70% told Dogs Trust that their clients had experienced barriers to accessing homelessness services because they have a dog.
In addition, 84% were aware of one or more cases where someone had refused an offer of temporary or emergency accommodation because it would have meant giving up their dog. Just 51% of the homelessness services that responded to the Dogs Trust survey said their services were dog-friendly.
Dogs Trust’s Together Through Homelessness project works directly with homelessness services to help them become dog-friendly, offering free bespoke support and ongoing advice on everything from dog-friendly policies to behaviour resources.
To find out more about the Dogs Trust Together Through Homelessness endorsement scheme and the support available to homelessness services, please click here.
Pictured: Billy and Antonio from St Martins with Abigail from the Dog’s Trust