The goal of the emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance program is to increase the number of emergency and transitional housing options for victims of DV and their companion…

This Project Grant award of $100,000 from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime will fund Ruby's Place to expand emergency shelter and housing programs for victims of domestic violence and their companion animals in Alameda County, California. Ruby's Place will provide on-site boarding for up to six pets at a time and 20 pets annually at its Betty's Village shelter. It will offer case management, financial assistance for housing and pet-related needs such as boarding/fostering, food, insurance, veterinary care and grooming. Ruby's Place will also train stakeholders and staff on the link between domestic violence and pets, and strengthen partnerships with landlords to secure pet-inclusive housing. By providing pet-inclusive support and housing from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025, Ruby's Place aims to remove barriers for victims to access resources and leave abusive relationships. This award falls under the Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants program (CFDA 16.582) which supports demonstration projects and training through the Crime Victims Fund.

The goal of the emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance program is to increase the number of emergency and transitional housing options for victims of DV and their companion animals in alameda county. Ruby's place understands that the decision to leave a pet behind weighs heavily on a victim's decision to leave an abusive decision, in addition to animal abuse being an indicator of domestic violence as well as an early warning sign of concurrent or future violence. Ruby's place has identified a GAP in housing and supportive services provided victims with companion pets in alameda county. In order to better serve this population of victims, ruby's place will expand its existing emergency shelter and housing programs located within alameda county. These programs will expand to include: an onsite boarding space for companion animals (for up 6 pets at a time and 20 pets a year at betty's village shelter), provide both case management and financial assistance for securing housing and pet-related needs (including but not limited to referrals for boarding/fostering or hotels when space is limited, food, pet insurance, veterinary care, and grooming products), provide training to stakeholders and staff on the link between domestic violence and pets, and deepen partnerships with new and existing landlords to secure pet-inclusive housing that is safe and welcoming for pets. Ruby's place will partner with ruthless kindness and pets in need, nonprofits specializing in the link domestic violence and pets, to deliver the program's goals. Individuals and pets in these programs will benefit from the pet-inclusive environments and practices. Ruby's place anticipates that by providing pet-inclusive care, trauma-informed support and housing will lead to the removal of barriers to leave abusive relationships and access resources specific to their needs.