The Hope Project provides free veterinary treatment for dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness or in housing crisis. This includes those who are rough sleeping, living in a hostel, night shelter, on an unauthorised travellers' site, in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing and squatting.
Through our Welcoming Dogs scheme, we support temporary accommodation providers to accept and manage dogs safely and responsibly. We also advocate on behalf of individual dog owners experiencing homelessness who have been offered temporary accommodation which does not accept dogs.
Support for dog owners experiencing homelessness or in housing crisis:
- free veterinary care
- support with accessing dog-friendly temporary accommodation
Dogs Trust Hope Project
17 Wakley Street
London
EC1V 7RQ
T: 020 7833 7611
F: 020 7833 8798
E: hopeproject@dogstrust.org.uk
Locations we operate in
Dogs Trust Hope Project - 020 7833 7611
17 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7RQ
Services we Provide
Finance, benefit and debt
Overview
Free veterinary care for dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness or in housing crisis
What we do
The Hope Project provides free veterinary treatment for dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness or in housing crisis. This includes those who are rough sleeping, living in a hostel, night shelter, on an unauthorised travellers' site, in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing and squatting.
Through our veterinary entitlement card scheme we work in 115 towns and cities across the UK in conjunction with participating vet practices and homelessness organisations to provide this service.
Where we do it
Dog owners anywhere in the UK can access this service.
How to access
Dog Owners
You can apply to the Hope Project veterinary scheme through a participating homelessness organisation in any of our 114 scheme areas. Please ask your local homelessness organisation if they take part in our scheme.
If you are not in touch with any of the organisations that participate in our scheme, you can apply to us directly. You will need to provide us with proof that you are homeless or in housing crisis from a recognised homelessness organisation or your local authority. Please contact us for more information. If you are not in contact with either of these services then please let us know so that we can advise you further.
Homelessness Services
If you are a homelessness service in one of the 114 areas where our scheme currently runs, you can make online applications for your clients and their dogs. To register your service on the project, please apply here.
If you are a homelessness service outside of our scheme areas, please contact us to discuss how Dogs Trust Hope Project can help you.
Accommodation
Overview
Through our Welcoming Dogs scheme, we support temporary accommodation providers to accept and manage dogs safely and responsibly. We also support individual dog owners experiencing homelessness around accessing dog-friendly temporary accommodation.
What we do
We can support homelessness services interested in becoming dog-friendly by putting together and implementing a bespoke pet policy and pet owner agreement. We have a lot of resources on risk assessments and referrals and we can do an in-person consultation on how to accept dogs safely and responsibly. A service can become Welcoming Dogs endorsed and receive an endorsement certificate and a starter pack of dog items (dog beds, food bowls, collars, leads, toys, food etc.)
Through the Welcoming Dogs scheme we also support individual dog owners experiencing homelessness around accessing pet-friendly temporary accommodation by liaising with the accommodation provider and addressing any concern they may have around accepting a pet in the property.
Where we do it
Homelessness services interested in becoming dog-friendly and individual dog owners experiencing homelessness anywhere in the UK can access the Welcoming Dogs scheme.
How to access
Homelessness services and individual dog owners can contact us by phone on 020 7833 7611 or via email on welcomingdogs@dogstrust.org.uk