“It’s hard work, and it’s heart work.”
That’s how Program Coordinator Jenna Topper summed up Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter’s Homeless Outreach and Assistance Program (HOAP) at this All Call. Launched in 2022 to address animal control officer call burden and better support pet owners experiencing homelessness through field-based, relationship-centered outreach, HOAP has steadily grown pet owner trust, animal control officer collaboration, donor and volunteer commitment, human services partnerships, and community and shelter impact.
Jenna shared five questions the small but mighty HOAP team has relied on from the start—from federal and local policy changes and shelter staff shortages, to securing a new mobile veterinary vehicle:
- Who is currently excluded from accessing care, and why?
- How do we reduce harm and build trust with pet guardians who may fear enforcement?
- What barriers keep pets from staying with their people—and which ones can we influence?
- How can we honor owners’ advocacy and the strengths/connections already embedded within their communities?
- What values are most important to us—what do they look like in practice as we navigate obstacles?
In her presentation, you’ll also hear about HOAP’s budget, shelter benefits, spay/neuter advice, and the lesson that surprised Jenna most. Whether you’re curious about launching a similar program in your community or hoping to strengthen your existing efforts, you’ll find tips to get it done.
