Defense Date

3-19-2024

Graduation Date

Spring 5-10-2024

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MA

Department

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Anita Zuberi

Committee Member

Cathleen Appelt

Keywords

healthcare, homelessness, housing insecurity, animal welfare, street medicine, veterinary medicine

Abstract

People experiencing housing insecurity and financial hardship often prioritize their pets’ needs ahead of their own. In addition to financial concerns, some struggle to obtain medical treatment because they lack transportation or have had negative experiences with medical professionals. The Humane Health Coalition (HHC), a collaboration between Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), seeks to address these challenges. The HHC is based on the One Health Model and brings together medical and veterinary staff to provide care and resources for both pets and their owners. My research examines the implementation of this new program. I conducted observations and semi-structured interviews at eight HHC clinics over four months. I interviewed twenty-seven participants and thirteen staff members from HARP, AHN, and other staff associated with the HHC. In addition, I analyzed the HHC’s administrative data. My findings describe the services offered, assess how effectively the initiative is reaching its target population, and explore the experiences of HHC participants in accessing services. These results will be shared with the Coalition and can inform future HHC events, such as where clinics should be held, changes to the intake paperwork, and additional staff training.

Language

English

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