Each year, nearly two million young people in the United States find themselves facing the harrowing reality of homelessness. A significant subset of this vulnerable population, estimated at roughly 25%, are accompanied by companion animals that provide essential emotional support and a sense of stability amid profound uncertainty. Yet, this human-animal bond, while deeply valuable, often poses an unforeseen barrier to accessing vital health and housing services. Traditional health care and social service frameworks are frequently ill-equipped to accommodate the needs of individuals who present with pets, resulting in critical gaps in care. This phenomenon has been explored in depth by recent observational research, highlighting the complex interplay between pet ownership and health care utilization among young adults experiencing homelessness.
The Seattle One Health Clinic represents a groundbreaking model designed explicitly to circumvent these barriers by integrating veterinary and human medical services under one roof. Developed through a collaborative partnership between the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research, Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and multiple nonprofit organizations, the clinic aims to deliver holistic care that acknowledges the intertwined health needs of people and their companion animals. This approach recognizes that providing support to the human-animal dyad is not just compassionate but also pragmatic, enhancing trust and engagement with traditionally marginalized patients.
In a study published recently in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, researchers from the One Health Clinic evaluated clinical outcomes from 2019 through 2022 to assess the impact of this integrative care model. The study’s cohort predominantly consisted of young adults aged 23 or younger who were experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Remarkably, the data showed that 75 of 88 clients engaged with health care providers at least once during their visits to the clinic, with nearly half establishing consistent primary care relationships for the first time in years. Furthermore, a significant proportion of clients returned for follow-up visits, underscoring the clinic’s success in fostering ongoing health engagement in this difficult-to-reach population.
One of the most striking findings was that almost 80% of all clinic visits culminated in human health care services being delivered, even in instances where clients initially sought care solely for their pets. This highlights the clinic’s unique capacity to create a welcoming and supportive environment that lowers the threshold for individuals to access medical care for themselves. The co-location of veterinary and human health professionals facilitates a seamless experience where concerns for companion animals naturally lead to addressing human health needs, bridging a gap that traditional health care settings often fail to close.
The clinic’s multidisciplinary team includes nurse practitioners, veterinarians, and veterinary students, working collaboratively to provide comprehensive care. University of Washington students also play a crucial role as patient navigators, assisting clients in overcoming systemic barriers and in managing shared health risks such as exposure to environmental contaminants, extreme weather, and zoonotic diseases. The integration of veterinary medicine within a primary care framework embodies the One Health philosophy, which stresses the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
A pivotal service offered at the Seattle One Health Clinic involves support for clients in obtaining documentation for their pets as emotional support animals (ESAs). This documentation has significant implications, often enabling clients to secure housing or access services that might otherwise be inaccessible due to restrictions on pet ownership. The recognition of pets as emotional support entities validates their role in mental and emotional well-being and addresses a structural barrier within housing policies and healthcare access frameworks.
Lead author and postdoctoral researcher Natalie Rejto underscores the clinic’s innovative approach, emphasizing that the truly integrated model, where human and animal health providers collaborate in real time, is distinct from traditional siloed care systems. According to Rejto, this strategy builds trust and delivers holistic care that considers not only individual health but also the complex social and environmental context in which clients live. She asserts that preventative care, facilitated via this integrated model, ultimately yields measurable benefits for public health on a broader scale.
Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, a founding member of the clinic and expert in environmental and occupational health, highlights how the addition of veterinary care transforms the clinic environment. The presence of pet care providers creates a uniquely supportive atmosphere, markedly different from standard medical clinics that may inadvertently alienate unhoused patients. This supportive setting encourages clients to prioritize both their own and their companions’ health, exemplifying a compassionate integration of care that challenges prevailing health care paradigms.
The study further illuminates the complex interdependencies between social determinants of health and the human-animal bond. Clients face enormous systemic hurdles, including stigma, distrust of institutions, and logistical challenges that exacerbate health inequities. By explicitly recognizing and addressing these factors within a coordinated care model, the One Health Clinic presents a scalable blueprint for reducing disparities and improving health outcomes among marginalized populations.
Despite the promising outcomes, the researchers acknowledge that the fully integrated model demonstrated by the One Health Clinic remains rare and requires substantial cross-sector collaboration between health care disciplines. Expanding communication and partnership between veterinary and human health professionals is essential to identifying shared environmental risks and zoonotic disease threats, while also broadening the conceptual framework through which providers approach patient care.
The implications of this research extend beyond the clinic’s immediate context. It advocates for a paradigm shift wherein human health care systems incorporate consideration of the human-animal relationship as an integral factor influencing health behaviors and access. Given the emotional and practical importance of pets to unhoused individuals, a One Health approach may offer new pathways to engage populations that traditional health care systems consistently struggle to reach.
Other contributors to the study include Julianne Meisner, assistant professor of global health and epidemiology; and researchers from the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Neighborcare Health, and Uplift Consulting. This multidisciplinary team underscores the necessity of diverse expertise for tackling the multifaceted challenges at the nexus of human and animal health.
Funding for this important research was provided by entities including the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Nursing Research Training Program in Global Health Nursing at the University of Washington, the New Tudor Foundation, and a community-supported Y/YA Shelter project. The publication costs were underwritten by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Open-Access Publishing Fund, reflecting an alignment of public health and animal welfare interests.
In a health care landscape marked by fragmentation and widening disparities, the Seattle One Health Clinic exemplifies how innovation, empathy, and interdisciplinary collaboration can generate impactful solutions. This integrative, client-centered approach reframes the challenges faced by homeless youth with pets, transforming barriers into bridges and setting a precedent that other communities may wish to emulate in their efforts to promote health equity.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: The One Health Clinic: Care for Young Adults and Companion Animals Experiencing Homelessness
News Publication Date: 31-Aug-2025
Web References:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4194276/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/089279304785643230?casa_token=31UOKvII3c0AAAAA:hQfoA8_bcMJnQ3XFKdOIPhXjAdvVl5OxzpZmFXGMFPAXtd3bHd0d2o0J1KoW42RhJo53KyiWHRE
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319251345973
References: DOI: 10.1177/2150131925134
Keywords: Homelessness
