How Father Joe’s Villages is helping homeless people and their pets stay together

Father Joe’s Villages is encouraging organizations across San Diego County to make their shelters pet-friendly, helping people experiencing homelessness avoid the painful decision of surrendering their animals to access housing.

Leaders say accommodating pets does not require building new facilities — just adapting existing spaces.

Benjamin Noss has been a client at Father Joe’s Villages for a couple of months, alongside his beloved Babygirl, a chiweenie he adopted when she was 2 months old.

“She’s part of me,” Noss said. “I feel like she saved me, and I saved her.”

Noss said keeping Babygirl by his side has been instrumental in getting back on his feet after experiencing homelessness and mental health struggles.

“I went back to school for culinary arts,” Noss said, adding that he’s six weeks away from graduating.

But Noss said finding pet-friendly shelters in San Diego was not easy.

“Only found out there was a handful at the time,” he said.

Father Joe’s Villages began accepting pets in 2020. Since then, the organization has worked to show other service providers that welcoming animals does not require major structural changes.

“Father Joe’s Villages didn’t build a new building or create a new space to be able to serve pets. We welcome pets into our existing shelter spaces,” said Jesse Casement, chief client services officer at Father Joe’s Villages.

While NBC 7 was not allowed to film inside sleeping areas, the shelter said it places crates next to beds so pets and owners can rest together. Other accommodations include private and public yards for pets to go potty, a bath station, pet supplies and access to veterinary care.

For Noss, the companionship has made a difference in his recovery.

“It’s that comfort of knowing that something loves you unconditionally,” he said. “It can help you rebound.”

Father Joe’s Villages said that in the last 15 years, more than 830 animals — service animals and pets combined — have entered and stayed at the shelter.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.