The homeless and their animal companions : an integrative review

Michelle Cleary; Denis Visentin; Deependra Kaji Thapa; Sancia West; Toby Raeburn; Rachel Kornhaber

doi:10.1007/s10488-019-00967-6

The homeless and their animal companions : an integrative review

Michelle Cleary, Denis Visentin, Deependra Kaji Thapa, Sancia West, Toby Raeburn, Rachel Kornhaber

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Research indicates a strong bond between those who are homeless and their companion animals. This relationship provides a number of benefits to the homeless person as well as to the animal, including safety, responsibility and improved emotional and mental health. However, the relationship can also add challenges, including decreased access to accommodation, decreased effort to find shelter as a consequence, and emotional vulnerability relating to fear of losing their companion pet. This integrative review examined the benefits and challenges of companion animals for the homeless to determine the consistency of findings to aid better service delivery to the homeless population.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	47-59
Number of pages	13
Journal	Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
Volume	47
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00967-6
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

homeless persons
human, animal relationships
pets

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10.1007/s10488-019-00967-6

Cite this

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AU - Thapa, Deependra Kaji

AU - West, Sancia

AU - Raeburn, Toby

AU - Kornhaber, Rachel

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AB - Research indicates a strong bond between those who are homeless and their companion animals. This relationship provides a number of benefits to the homeless person as well as to the animal, including safety, responsibility and improved emotional and mental health. However, the relationship can also add challenges, including decreased access to accommodation, decreased effort to find shelter as a consequence, and emotional vulnerability relating to fear of losing their companion pet. This integrative review examined the benefits and challenges of companion animals for the homeless to determine the consistency of findings to aid better service delivery to the homeless population.

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The homeless and their animal companions : an integrative review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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