RedRover’s Safe Housing Grants

RedRover, a nonprofit organization operating under the name United Animal Nations, offers the Safe Housing grant program to support domestic violence and animal organizations across the United States. This initiative aims to eliminate barriers that prevent survivors of domestic violence from escaping abusive situations by providing solutions that allow them to bring their pets along. The program emphasizes community-specific flexibility in implementing pet accommodations and encourages collaborative partnerships between domestic violence services and animal care organizations. The Safe Housing grants provide up to $60,000 per award to eligible nonprofits. These funds can be allocated for a variety of services, including constructing or renovating pet-friendly spaces within shelters, launching foster programs, covering temporary boarding expenses, or a combination of these options. Additional allowable expenses include routine and emergency veterinary care and pet deposits. Funding for boarding, medical care, and pet deposits is capped at a two-year period, during which applicants are expected to establish sustainable funding strategies. Separate grants of up to $60,000 are also available for nonprofit homeless shelters to accommodate pets. These grants follow the same guidelines as those for domestic violence shelters, with a specific focus on maintaining co-sheltering arrangements for unhoused individuals and their pets. These applicants are not required to operate a domestic violence-specific program. A distinct application form is used for homeless shelter applicants. To qualify, applicants must be registered nonprofit entities based in the United States and demonstrate an established background in either domestic violence services or animal welfare. They must also form partnerships with organizations in the complementary field to ensure the comprehensive care of both survivors and their pets. An MOU must be in place detailing responsibilities, costs, and care logistics. All programs must be ready to accept pets within 12 months of receiving funding, comply with relevant laws and ordinances, and use RedRover’s provided budget template. The application process requires a detailed program plan and pre-verified building estimates if construction is involved. Veterinary partnerships or in-house capabilities must be secured prior to application. Grants do not cover salaries, training, real estate purchases, promotional efforts, or the continuation of existing programs that are not expanding services. Grant application deadlines occur tri-annually on March 1st, June 1st, and September 1st. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but reviewed only after each deadline. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within 45 days. RedRover encourages applicants to utilize its partner resource, DontForgetThePets.org, for training, templates, and coaching to support application development and program planning.