Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign Releases New Podcast Episode on the Intersection of Animal Welfare, Disaster Recovery, and Housing Justice
Apr 20, 2026
By Ella Izenour, NLIHC Opportunity Starts at Home Intern
The Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign released a new podcast episode, “Animal Welfare, Disaster Recovery, and Housing Justice.” The episode, hosted by Julie Walker, features a discussion with Meghan Mertyris, senior policy analyst at the National Low Income Housing Coalition; Christine Kim, executive director of My Dog is My Home, and Shari Myers, disaster operations coordinator at The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies. The guests discuss the intersection of housing, disaster recovery, and animal welfare. Analysis of this issue reveals that while short-term protections for survivors and their pets exist, long-term protections are limited.
The episode highlights the lack of consistent policies ensuring that survivors can remain with their animals beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster. For many individuals, especially those experiencing housing insecurity, pets are not just companions but essential sources of emotional stability. Yet, accessing long-term affordable housing often includes restrictive pet policies or fees, creating recovery inequities that disproportionately impact low-income survivors. The conversation also emphasizes challenges faced by people with disabilities. Survivors who rely on service animals may encounter barriers when seeking housing due to inadequate enforcement of accessibility laws or a lack of awareness among hotels and landlords. Even when legal protections exist, such as those requiring reasonable accommodations, limited accessible housing stock poses a problem for survivors.
The episode also emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in disaster recovery solutions. Discussion examines the disproportionate impact of restrictive pet and recovery policies on marginalized communities. Guests advocate policy reforms such as the suspension of breed and weight requirements, including pet-related costs in disaster assistance, and prohibiting pet fees during disaster recovery periods. The episode also points to promising models like California’s Pet Assistance and Support program, which has helped thousands of people experiencing homelessness to maintain custody of their pets while accessing services.
Overall, the discussion calls for more inclusive, long-term housing and recovery policies that recognize the vital role pets play in survivors’ stability and well-being.
Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple, and Soundcloud.
Learn more about the NLIHC Disaster Housing and Recovery Coalition here.
My Dog is My Home is a member of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign’s Opportunity Roundtable. Learn more here.
Learn more about the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies here.