Keeping Families Together: Housing Justice for People and Their Pets with Christine Kim
03/14/25 • 92 min
Christine Kim, founder of My Dog is My Home, joins us to discuss the critical intersection of housing justice and animal companionship. This eye-opening conversation explores how homeless services, emergency shelters, and housing policies can better serve people and their companion animals, challenging systemic barriers that often force families to choose between shelter and keeping their pets.
This episode explores:
- The difference between “pet-friendly” and truly “pet-inclusive” housing policies
- How co-sheltering programs successfully keep people and pets together
- The connection between breed restrictions and racial discrimination in housing
- Emergency disaster response protocols for families with companion animals
- Innovative solutions for accessible homeless services
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Christine Kim is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animals face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine currently serves as Vice Chair of the board of directors for Animal Care Centers of NYC.
RESOURCES
- Elon Musk Should Take a Hard Look at One Agency Truly Wasting Taxpayer Dollars
- Piglets Left to Die in Art Exhibition Are Stolen in Denmark
- We’re being nudged to eat meat. What if the tables were turned?
- More Than Half Of Brits Unaware Cows Must Be Impregnated To Produce Milk, Survey Finds
- My Dog Is My Home website
- My Dog is My Home’s virtual conference takes place March 25-27, 2025. Use code henhouse2025 for $65 off registration.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview._____________________________________________
Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!
Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
Follow us on social ...
Christine Kim, founder of My Dog is My Home, joins us to discuss the critical intersection of housing justice and animal companionship. This eye-opening conversation explores how homeless services, emergency shelters, and housing policies can better serve people and their companion animals, challenging systemic barriers that often force families to choose between shelter and keeping their pets.
This episode explores:
- The difference between “pet-friendly” and truly “pet-inclusive” housing policies
- How co-sheltering programs successfully keep people and pets together
- The connection between breed restrictions and racial discrimination in housing
- Emergency disaster response protocols for families with companion animals
- Innovative solutions for accessible homeless services
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Christine Kim is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animals face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine currently serves as Vice Chair of the board of directors for Animal Care Centers of NYC.
RESOURCES
- Elon Musk Should Take a Hard Look at One Agency Truly Wasting Taxpayer Dollars
- Piglets Left to Die in Art Exhibition Are Stolen in Denmark
- We’re being nudged to eat meat. What if the tables were turned?
- More Than Half Of Brits Unaware Cows Must Be Impregnated To Produce Milk, Survey Finds
- My Dog Is My Home website
- My Dog is My Home’s virtual conference takes place March 25-27, 2025. Use code henhouse2025 for $65 off registration.
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview._____________________________________________
Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!
Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
Follow us on social ...
Previous Episode
Creating Vegan Safe Havens: Transforming Tragedy into Healing with Frances Gonzalez
In this powerful episode, we welcome Frances Gonzalez, founder of Little Logan’s Farm, who shares her inspiring journey of creating a veganic sanctuary and educational space in New York’s Hudson Valley. After experiencing profound personal loss, Frances channeled her grief into building a community space that champions veganic farming and compassionate living. Through innovative farm-to-table events and educational programs, she’s breaking new ground in showing how sustainable, animal-free agriculture can bring people together and heal communities.
This episode explores:
- The story behind Little Logan’s Farm in Gardiner, NY, and how it became a safe haven for both humans and animals
- Biocyclic vegan agriculture and its importance in creating truly cruelty-free farming systems
- How farm-to-table experiences can showcase plant-based cuisine without exploiting animals
- Frances’s work with Puerto Rico VegFest and expanding vegan education globally
- The intersection of sustainable farming, community building, and healing through nature
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Frances Gonzalez is a pioneering force in the vegan movement, serving as both the founder of Vegfest Puerto Rico and co-founder of Little Logan’s Farm, a sustainable sanctuary in New York’s Hudson Valley. At Little Logan’s Farm, she has created an innovative fusion of veganic farming practices and elegant event spaces, offering farm-to-table experiences, sustainable wedding venues, wellness retreats, and educational programming. Through her work in both Puerto Rico and New York, Frances demonstrates how plant-based living, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare can harmoniously combine in modern spaces while maintaining a deep connection to nature.
RESOURCES
- Derek Sarno on Youtube
- How vernal ponds are saving Rochester’s frogs
- It’s Weird That Eggs Were Ever Cheap
- Why Big Pharma wants you to eat more meat
- Vegan ‘Anora’ Star Mikey Madison Wins ‘Best Actress’ Oscar
- The Most Ambitious Plant-Based College Dining Initiative Yet Comes to Texas
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview._____________________________________________
Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!
Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.
Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael H...
Next Episode
Inside the Psychology of Animal Advocacy with PHAIR Society’s Kristof Dhont and Jared Piazza
Leading researchers from the Psychology of Human Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR) Society join us to explore the science behind effective animal advocacy. Social psychologists Kristof Dhont and Jared Piazza share evidence-based insights about why people resist changing their behavior toward animals despite claiming to care about them and what this means for vegan advocacy and animal rights activism.
This episode explores:
- Understanding cognitive dissonance and the “meat paradox” – key psychological barriers to veganism
- Research-backed strategies for effective animal rights advocacy and behavior change
- How social identity, masculinity, and food familiarity impact plant-based eating
- Science-based approaches to reducing animal product consumption and promoting veganism
ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Dr Kristof Dhont is a Reader in Psychology at the University of Kent (UK). He is founder and director of SHARKLab and co-founder and President of the PHAIR Society, dedicated to the psychological study of human-animal relations. He investigates the psychological underpinnings and ideological roots of speciesism, racism, and sexism, and the moral psychology of eating and exploiting animals. He has co-edited Why We Love and Exploit Animals (Dhont & Hodson, 2020) and currently serves as Associate Editor for the journal Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR). Previously, he served as Associate Editor for Group Processes & Intergroup Relations (GPIR) and as Consulting Editor for the European Journal of Personality (EJP).
Dr Jared Piazza is a Senior Lecturer of Psychology at Lancaster University (UK). He studies moral decision making as it relates to consumer choices, our treatment of animals, and one another. His research applies perspectives from moral, social, and developmental psychology. He is co-founder and Vice President of the Society for the Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR), serves as an Associate Editor of the PHAIR journal, and chief editor of the PHAIR blog.
RESOURCES
- Some Vegans Were Harmed in the Watching of This Movie
- The animal agriculture industry’s obstruction of campaigns promoting individual climate action
- Rich nations could see ‘double climate dividend’ by switching to plant-based foods
- American Red Cross Working To Provide Plant-Based Options In Shelters
- Goodbye, ‘soy boys.’ Hello, swole vegans.
- Both Democratic And Republican Voters Favor Politicians Who Support Animal Protection
- PHAIR Society website
- PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2025
- Jared R Piazza Publications and In Press Papers
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview._____________________________________________
Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!
Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts:
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