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The Homeless and Their Animal Companions: An Integrative Review

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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.

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Funding

Improving Mental and Critical Care Health MaCCH–UTAS funding awarded under the UTAS Research Themes: Better Health Research Development Grant Scheme, supported by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and FoH (C0025653).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 5052, Alexandria, Sydney, NSW, 2015, Australia

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

  2. Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, 88 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Toby Raeburn

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  1. Michelle Cleary
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  2. Denis Visentin
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  3. Deependra Kaji Thapa
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  4. Sancia West
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  5. Toby Raeburn
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  6. Rachel Kornhaber
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Correspondence to Michelle Cleary.

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Cleary, M., Visentin, D., Thapa, D.K. et al. The Homeless and Their Animal Companions: An Integrative Review. Adm Policy Ment Health 47, 47–59 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00967-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00967-6

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