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From 2016 to 2023, Gertrude C. lives in a Queens Village (New York City) basement apartment with her two beloved cats, Gabriella and Abigail. In January 2023, after six and a half years of living, Gertrude’s landlord informed her that she had to leave because renting the space was deemed illegal.
The owner agrees to keep Gertrude’s cats in the basement until she finds a place that accepts pets.
At first, Gertrude found a hotel room to stay in for a week. Then, on April 1, she moved into a homeless shelter while her previous owner continued to care for her cats.
Out of Options
“I couldn’t pay more than $1,000 a month in rent, and any place I found cost too much money,” Gertrude, 66, said.
In June, Gertrude’s former owner told her she had to get her cats out of her building.
Out of options, Getrude contacted the ASPCA, which she was familiar with using the ASPCA’s mobile clinics for her previous cats, Angel and Princess.
Getrude picks up Gabriella and Abigail at her old home and takes a taxi to the ASPCA’s 92nd Street location.
A New Home
The ASPCA Community Engagement (CE) team agreed to temporarily board Gabriella and Abigail while Gertrude worked on a more permanent solution.
Meanwhile, the CE team contacted the City Department of Homeless Services and Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Gertrude’s case manager and doctor, to obtain Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters for prospective landlords and apartment managers—proof that Gertrude had a valid health reason for needing to live with her cats, whom she considered emotional support animals.
“Gertrude visited Abigail and Gabriella several times while they were in our care, and not only was it clear how much they meant to her, but you could see how much she meant to them,” said Delia Kurland, Senior Director of Operations of the ASPCA Adoption Center and Kitten Nursery. “The quality of all their lives is better when they are together.”
Once Gertrude’s ESA letter became available, the ASPCA obtained approval for Gertrude’s cats to move with her to a new shelter. On September 20, Gertrude and her cats moved to Rockaway Park, Queens.
“It is a small room for the three of us,” said Gertrude. “But I’m so happy to be with them now.”
New Bill Aims to Help People and Pets Live Together
The ASPCA works to remove barriers to keeping families together, and one of the biggest barriers is housing. Most of us consider our pets to be part of the family, but sadly these bonds are stifled by strict policies that make it particularly challenging for families, especially in lower-income households. income, renters, and those experiencing homelessness to obtain housing that will accommodate the four of them. -family members with feet.
Lawmakers in Congress are considering a bill aimed at keeping animals and their pet parents together when seeking shelter due to an emergency or homelessness.
Rep. said. Jason Crow (D-CO) whose car ride with his 10-year-old daughter in his Aurora district inspired the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act (PUPP Act), which would allow the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants to emergency shelters that allow them to accommodate homeless individuals with pets.
During their outing, Crow and her son noticed that many homeless people in her community had pets.
“That’s heartbreaking,” Crow said, adding that the research revealed a “huge gap” in resources.
“Pets play an important role in the lives of their human caretakers, regardless of their income level or housing situation. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of pet-friendly housing,” said Ingrid Seggerman, who works in Federal Affairs at the ASPCA, one of the national organizations that advocates for the law. “When faced with the impossible choice of finding shelter for themselves or staying on the street with their animal, homeless pet owners often refuse help if that shelter won’t accept their animal to enter.”
A 2015 study found that as many as 25% of people experiencing homelessness own pets. Among all American households, 2023 statistics put pet ownership at 66%.
Advocates for the PUPP Act say an emergency, natural disaster or sudden economic issue may require someone to seek shelter immediately, only to receive the alarming news that they cannot bring pets.
If passed, PUPP Act grants could be used to build new properties, renovate properties to make room for clients with pets or cover the costs of critical pet care supplies. Grants will also fund pet-related operating costs, such as basic veterinary and behavioral services.
This bipartisan bill, introduced by Congressman Crow and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC), received strong support from an ASPCA-led coalition of more than 100 animal welfare organizations, human service agencies and other advocacy groups are urging Congress to include the PUPP Act in the Farm Bill, a twice-per-decade package of legislation that governs US agriculture and food policy.
“My Cats Are My Everything”
Gertrude moved to New York City from Haiti in February 1981, when she was 23. She last visited Haiti in 1992 after her grandmother died.
Over the years, Gertrude worked as a patient care associate in hospitals and as a taxi driver. He stopped working during the COVID, in 2020.
“I’m afraid of getting sick because I have no one to help me,” he said.
Gertrude receives retirement benefits from her union and pays no rent for her current housing. But since he doesn’t have a kitchen, he eats out every day or buys prepared food. He also pays for a storage unit where he keeps most of his possessions, including his many books.
“Things are very difficult now,” said Gertrude. “But my cats are very important to me. They are part of my life, my children, everything. No matter how hard life is, my cats make me happy.”
