My Dog is My Home Open House Los Angeles – Sponsored by Michelson Found Animals
My Dog Is My Home and LA Family Housing Announce Open House to Showcase Pet-Inclusive Supportive Housing as a Solution to Ending Homelessness
January 29, 2024
LOS ANGELES – My Dog Is My Home, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to shelter and housing, in collaboration with LA Family Housing (LAFH), an affordable housing and homeless services organization, announced collaboration on an Open House event which will showcase LA Family Housing’s pet-inclusive interim housing facilities across LA County. Over the last 40 years, LAFH has grown to become one of the largest providers of housing and homeless services in Los Angeles, serving over 14,000 people annually. Homeless services providers, policy makers, researchers, and animal welfare organizations are invited to the event to learn about operating a pet-inclusive homeless shelter and to receive mentorship on developing their own programs that preserve the human-animal bond in circumstances of homelessness.
Speakers at the Open House will include:
- Christine Kim, Founder and Board Member of My Dog Is My Home
- Kelsey Madigan, Deputy Chief Programs Officer – Homeless Programs, LA Family Housing
- LAFH residents with lived experience of homelessness with a companion animal
“Homeless services providers in California do not have to be convinced that the no-pets-allowed rule is a barrier to people accessing shelter,” said Christine Kim, founder and board member of My Dog Is My Home. “What providers need now is guidance on how to actually develop and implement policies that accommodate animals on site. We are grateful to LA Family Housing for their partnership and willingness to host this group of providers who want to learn from their long history of co-sheltering people and pets together.”
“My Dog is My Home isn’t just a co-sheltering program; it’s a revolution. They recognize that no one thrives in isolation, not people, not pets. Their model is the future of animal welfare, and Michelson Found Animals is proud to stand with them. This open house isn’t just about finding forever homes; it’s about building a community of compassion.” – Brett Yates, CEO, Michelson Found Animals.
This Open House is the sixth event of its kind hosted by My Dog Is My Home and host sites across the country. The Open House in Los Angeles is sponsored by Michelson Found Animals and Maddie’s Fund®, #ThankstoMaddie.
Michelson Found Animals is local to the Los Angeles area and is fully invested in the expansion of both pet-inclusive rental housing and housing programs for people experiencing homelessness.
Maddie’s Fund®, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals. “[Maddie’s Fund] is honored to support My Dog is My Home,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team, Maddie’s Fund. ”We know that 97% percent of people with pets consider them part of their family, and keeping people and pets together is vital.”
Location: North Hollywood (exact address to be given upon registration)
Register at https://forms.gle/BiCsJgSBLjCsjLpL7
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Media Contacts
Christine Kim, Board of Directors, My Dog is My Home
christine@mydogismyhome.org
213-705-7363
Helen Larimore, Marketing & Communications Manager, Michelson Found Animals
