🐾 The Pet-Inclusive Housing Gap: Data, Disparities, and the Path Forward
Millions of renters consider pets part of the family, but outdated rental policies continue to separate families and fill shelters.
The new Pets & Housing Data: 2025 Edition, produced by our team at the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, offers a comprehensive national look at the true state of rental housing for pet owners.
🔑 Key findings include:
✔ Less than 10% of rentals are truly pet-inclusive, without breed or size restrictions
✔ 72% of renters with pets struggle to find housing
✔ Pet fees are the no. 1 barrier across all income levels
✔ Restrictive policies force families to choose between their home and their pet
This has to change, and the data shows exactly how.
🏡 Use the data. Change the system. Keep families together - pets included.
📥 Learn more and download the 2025 report now: Link in bio
At MFA, we know these are challenging times for Los Angeles—and we want our community to know we’re here, standing with you and your pets.
In the first half of 2025, our teams have been working tirelessly to support families through wildfires, economic instability, and now, the growing fear created by ICE activity. From distributing over 108,000 lbs of pet food to providing nearly 2,100 free spay/neuter surgeries, we’ve shown up across the city with compassion and critical resources.
Our Better Neighbor Project continues to bring Pet Wellness Days to underserved communities, and now has a brand-new online hub to help pet families and partners find support more easily than ever.
As many of our neighbors face fear and uncertainty, we’re also organizing emergency pet supply drop-offs and recruiting volunteers to help families stay whole during these difficult moments.
As we move into the second half of the year, the MFA team remains deeply committed to standing alongside our neighbors because every family deserves to feel safe, supported, and whole, pets included.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re in it together.
Read our full mid-year update and learn how you can join us: Link in bio
#thankyou #pets #lastrong #togetherforla #losangeles #california #petcare #community #volunteer #rescue #support #volunteer #spayandneuter #news #animals #family #team #betterneighborproject
Are you an organization in need of pet supplies? Thanks to a generous donation from @greatergoodcharities , MFA’s Better Neighbor Project team is offering donations of pet supplies, including dog and cat food, to qualified applicants affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires.
Who can apply? Organizations supporting communities (evacuation centers, other rescues, or shelters).
Things to know:
- Minimum pick-up requirement: 10 bags of supplies.
- Items are provided “as is” and may not be resold.
- Pick-up location: BNP Warehouse (Inglewood).
- Bring an appropriate vehicle and extra help for loading (if possible).
- If you cannot pick up, please indicate your preferred drop-off location. We’ll do our best to schedule a drop-off, but cannot guarantee delivery due to limited capacity.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Link to the application form is in our bio.
#losangeles #disasterrelief #lafires #pets #petsupplies #help #care #resource #community #betterneighborproject
🐾 It’s #NationalVolunteerWeek!
To our amazing volunteers: thank you for showing up with compassion, dedication, and heart. You make it possible for people and pets to stay together, and your impact is felt every single day. We truly couldn’t do this without you.
This week, we’re highlighting one of our incredible volunteer partners: @factfamily_nonprofit (Family, Adult, & Child Therapies). FACT provides evidence-based services to people of all ages living with developmental disabilities or behavioral health conditions, helping foster inclusion, choice, and community participation. 🎥 Watch the video at the link in our bio to learn more.
We are GIVING AWAY all of this FREE food and toys at our Pet Resource Fair on April 12 starting at 9:30 am at @penmarrc . Thank you @foundanimals for your generous donation to support our event! First come, first serve. While supplies last. #reducinganimalstress #helpinganimals #foundanimalsfoundation
Now is the time to submit nominations for the 2026 Pets and Housing Awards! These awards honor the trailblazers, innovators, and community champions who are making housing more welcoming for pets and their people. We want to celebrate the outstanding efforts of leaders who are redefining what it means to welcome pets.
Submit your nomination and create recognition for strides in pet-inclusivity. Winners will be announced virtually, making it easy to celebrate together.
Learn more and submit your nomination here: /pets-and-housing-awards/
Happy World Spay Day! Is there a better way to celebrate than with some HUGE news? Drum roll, please .. 🥁
@thespayceproject is THRILLED to be an inaugural grantee of the @foundanimals Spay & Neuter Initiative Accelerator Grant Program!
With this incredible grant PLUS expert mentorship from the best in the business, we are empowered to expand our capacity to provide high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services to the communities that need them most.
From Los Angeles to Barstow, and Porterville to Panorama City - we see you, and we are working as hard as we can to reach every dog in your communities.
Thank you, Michelson Found Animals Foundation for trusting us to make a difference and helping us keep more dogs out of shelters and off the streets 🙏 We are so honored!
Read more about this program at: /mfa-launches-accelerator-to-expand-sn-access/
#WorldSpayDay #MichelsonFoundAnimals #spayandneuter #LosAngeles #thankyou
🐾 On #WorldSpayDay, Michelson Found Animals, in partnership with the Robert & Erika Brunson Fund, launched a $150,000 Spay & Neuter Initiative (SNI) Accelerator Grant Program to expand access to care in Greater Los Angeles.
Beyond traditional grantmaking that funds surgeries, this program builds sustainable, scalable clinic infrastructure that addresses the root causes of shelter intake.
Through seed funding, mentorship, and a 6-month curriculum created with @open_door_vet_collective , grantees will strengthen high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services across LA.
Together, we’re building a long-term network of providers committed to closing the access gap and keeping pets out of shelters.
👉 Learn more at the link in bio.
#SpayNeuter #AnimalWelfare #LosAngeles
Now is YOUR chance to showcase incredible work in making communities more pet-inclusive! Submit your nomination early, by March 1, to be featured on Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative's LinkedIn page. Be recognized as a trailblazer in housing and celebrate the impact with others shaping the future of pet-inclusive housing.
Winners will be announced virtually, making it easy to celebrate together! Submit your nomination today through the link in our bio!
#PetsAndHousingAwards #PetInclusiveHousing #MultifamilyInnovation #HousingLeaders
Michelson Philanthropies is proud to announce the appointment of Phillip J. Kim as Executive Director.
A leader within the Michelson ecosystem since 2009, Phillip brings deep institutional knowledge and a track record of turning bold ideas into measurable impact. Alongside an executive team with more than 50 years of combined service, he will guide our work across education, public policy, medical research, and animal welfare.
We look forward to this next chapter grounded in experience, driven by mission, and focused on lasting systemic change.
Pictured left to right: Phillip J. Kim (Executive Director); Miguel León (Managing Director, Michelson 20MM Foundation); Mayra Lombera (Chief Policy Officer); Jennifer Naitaki (Managing Director, Michelson Found Animals Foundation); Darice Bailey (Chief Financial & Operations Officer).
Read more via the link in bio.
🐕🏘️ Across Los Angeles County, renters with pets face real barriers to finding stable housing.
A new County effort is taking a closer look at these challenges—and inviting community participation.
On our new webpage, you can explore:
📊 What the new County motion proposes
📄 A feasibility study on pet-inclusive policies in rent-stabilized housing
🗣️ A survey for pet-owning renters
📣 Ways to support next steps at the County level
🔗 Learn more and get involved through the link in our bio.
On January 24th, Better Neighbor Project teamed up with some incredible partners and volunteers for another successful event! In collaboration with Legacy LA (@legacy_la ), CA State Senator Maria Elena Durazo (@senatormed ), and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (@asmmarkgonzalez ), we brought free pet services directly to the neighborhood.
Here’s the impact we made together: 🐶 274 pets received wellness and hygiene services
👨👩👦 175 pet parents attended
⚡110 microchips registered 📦 604 pet food and supply items distributed
This is what access + collaboration looks like.
👉Interested in FREE spay & neuter services? Email [email protected] to learn more.
👉Got your pet microchipped at this or a past BNP event? Please head to 24PetWatch.com to make sure all your contact info transferred correctly. Keeping your pet safe starts with updated info.
We are deeply grateful to the partners, volunteers, and community members who came together for people and pets. 🐾
#BetterNeighborProject #LegacyLA #CommunityCare #PetWellness #FreePetServices #MicrochipYourPet #LACommunity #FoundAnimals
