Our newest, furriest partners in aiding the homeless population
It should be no surprise to our frequent readers that we have been focusing on the homeless population’s furry companions this month. In preparation for Tuesday’s More Than a Number event at Bar K, we’ve been raising awareness about how having pets causes a large barrier to shelter entry, and why individuals experiencing homelessness deserve to keep their pets.
With all of these things at the top of her mind, our incredible Administrative Coordinator Patricia Hernandez was eager to discuss the topic when she coincidentally ran into some amazing leaders from KC Pet Project at her monthly neighborhood meeting.
Hernandez said, “It was so exciting and encouraging to see how GKCCEH and KC Pet Projects’ priorities and people-centric values aligned immediately.”
Yesterday, she had the opportunity to tour KC Pet Project’s expansive campus and was blown away by the welcoming and fun atmosphere of each building and workspace. After walking through the open conference and events space and sitting in the amazing Roasterie café, Hernandez and several leaders at KC Pet Project dove into how GKCCEH and KC Pet Project could assist each other and ultimately serve the Kansas City community in an even greater capacity. This meeting was the first of many in what seems to be a very promising and uplifting partnership.
Learning about KC Pet Project
Taking the time to learn about KC Pet Project’s many initiatives opened Hernandez’s already dog-loving eyes to the other impactful programs held by KC Pet Project. She had the opportunity to meet so many loving dogs but also learned about projects like KC Pet Project’s partnership with the Eagle Scouts where the organizations build dog houses for local outdoor pet owners. The most notable program that we learned about yesterday was KC Pet Project’s initiative to keep pet owners with their pets, no matter the circumstances: Keep Em Together KC.
Keep Em Together KC
Keep ‘Em Together, KC is a program that focuses on building community partnerships and expanding services to help address the systemic roots of resource inequity in Kansas City. The KC Pet Project team partners with organizations like GKCCEH and pet owners to help provide several resources to support a whole family model to increase pet retention and deter unnecessary pet surrender. The organization’s goal is to help pet owners resolve the problems they are experiencing so they can keep their pets.
Some amazing things we love about Keep Em Together KC when it comes to ending homelessness are:
- If a homeless individual has the opportunity to seek shelter, but their pet is not welcome in the shelter, KC Pet Project will develop a foster plan to reunite the owner and their pet as soon as possible.
- In order to help low-income individuals and families experience the love of having a pet, KC Pet Project will cover adoption fees in certain circumstances.
- When pet fees at apartment complexes and other rentals are too much for a pet owner to handle, KC Pet Project will cover the fees for the family/individual.
- KC Pet Project understands the importance of keeping families and their pets together and they see the value pets bring to everyone’s lives.
How you can get involved in this new partnership
One thing that Hernandez and the KC Pet Project team discussed was the increase in homeless pets as individuals and families experience increased eviction rates. Both organizations fear that as winter approaches, this problem will only get worse. So, what can you do?
Donate
Whether you’re comfortable donating to KC Pet Project’s Keep Em Together initiative, or you’d like to directly support the homeless population through GKCCEH, we assure you, your support will be much appreciated.
Volunteer/Foster
Volunteers are the heart of KC Pet Project. Whether you have a free day on the weekend or an occasional hour after work, there is a place for you to make a difference. Fostering is one of the most important ways you can help KC Pet Project. Providing temporary residents shelter in your home helps save lives and keeps families together.
Attend our Bar K Event Tomorrow!
On Dec. 8, 2021, from 5-8pm, swing by BarK for More Than a Number to learn how you can help us make sure those experiencing homelessness are more than a number. Participate in our raffle to support our upcoming Point in Time count and more.
