Thursday, November 6, 2025

14:45 - 15:45

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Details

Housing First teams often encounter a wide range of animals in the homes of the people they support, from maggots to Great Danes. This is a unique aspect of the work: entering someone’s home, often for an hour, without knowing in advance who or what will be there. While animals are not the primary focus of support work, they can quickly dominate the space — both physically and emotionally. Unlike human-related issues, which are well documented and discussed, animals often remain a blind spot in professional practice. In these situations, workers try to remain professional while managing their own fears, experiences and values. This reality stretches the usual support framework to include concerns related to animal welfare, neglect, legal responsibilities and staff safety. Grounded in a recent publication, this workshop aims to open a space for dialogue and reflection around these often-overlooked but essential questions in Housing First practice.

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Speaker