Senate Resolution No. 1066

BY: Senator GIANARIS

COMMEMORATING the 10th Anniversary of the People
and Animals Living Safely program

WHEREAS, The People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program was
founded in 2013 by the Urban Resource Institute (URI) to provide safe
and secure spaces for survivors of domestic violence, their families,
and pets to stay together and heal together in shelter; and

WHEREAS, PALS was the first and remains the only program in New York
City that offers co-living for people and pets in shelter; and

WHEREAS, PALS has expanded from one pilot program accepting only
cats to 10 shelters with 304 apartment-style units across New York City
that can accommodate hundreds of individuals every night along with pets
of any species; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, URI's PALS program served its 500th pet; and

WHEREAS, 50% of survivors of domestic violence reported that they
could not consider shelter if that would mean leaving their pet behind;
and

WHEREAS, The presence of pets is an important factor in the
experience and decision-making of domestic violence survivors, and the
human-animal bond is an important part of healing from trauma; and

WHEREAS, The PALS program has provided comprehensive services to
address the complex needs of domestic violence survivors and their
diverse pets, and has expanded its scale and scope of services over a
decade of learning; and

WHEREAS, PALS offers technical assistance to other service providers
seeking to accommodate pets and expand access to pet-friendly domestic
violence shelter and services; and

WHEREAS, PALS is a proof point of URI's commitment to innovation and
impact in delivering trauma-informed, client-centered services; and

WHEREAS, The PALS program is celebrating its 10-year anniversary;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the People and Animals Living Safely
(PALS) program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body recognize the pioneering
efforts of PALS in providing safe and secure spaces for Survivors of
Domestic Violence, their families, and pets to stay together and heal
together in shelter, and commend its leadership in making sustainable
decisions that help to positively address climate change, respect
natural resources, and create healthy indoor and outdoor environments;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body acknowledge the importance of
pet-friendly domestic violence shelter and services, and encourage the
expansion of pet-friendly services to accommodate the needs of domestic
violence survivors and their pets; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Urban Resource Center's People and Animals Living Safely
(PALS) program.