Leading UK homelessness charity St Mungo’s has launched a new children’s book, showing how pet-friendly accommodation can transform the lives of people sleeping rough, and to help give parents an informed way to talk to their kids about homelessness.
Award-winning children’s author, Jeanne Willis (Susanne Laughs, What Shall We Do Winnie-the-Pooh, What Are Little Girls Made Of?) has written the powerful new book telling the true stories of people who experienced homelessness through the eyes of their dogs who lived alongside them on the streets.
Commissioned by St Mungo’s, the free illustrated book, titled Stay! (Together), follows the stories of Arwa and Benny and their beloved dogs Jacko, Brandy and Casper as they sleep rough, and shows how finding accommodation that welcomed them together changed their lives.
Illustrated by Alice Larsson, Stay! (Together) aims to challenge common misconceptions around homelessness and encourage parents to begin conversations in a way that helps children build empathy and an open mind, while also shining a light on the comfort and companionship pets can provide during times of extreme hardship.
New research commissioned by the charity reveals that nearly a quarter of parents (24%) find the topic of homelessness difficult to discuss in an age-appropriate way and lack the confidence to answer their children’s questions1.
However, the findings also show storytelling can help – 9 in 10 (92%) of parents say books are a useful way for introducing social issues. Additionally, over 4 in 5 adults say animal stories help children process unfamiliar experiences (87%) and believe that stories told through the eyes of an animal keeps children especially engaged (85%)1. This highlights the need for books such as Stay! (Together) to help make conversations about homelessness more accessible to children.
The free digital book is inspired by Arwa and Benny’s experiences of sleeping rough with their dogs, who remained by their side throughout the difficult time they were forced to live on the streets.
Arwa fled to London in 2018 to escape the war in her home country and seek safety, temporarily separating from her beloved dog, Jacko. Reunited three years later, they were then left without a home in 2022 when Arwa’s flat was sold and she couldn’t find pet-friendly housing. Unwilling to abandon Jacko, she chose to sleep rough alongside him on the streets.
Around four years ago, St Mungo’s outreach team supported Arwa, placing her in a pet-friendly women’s service. She later moved into her own home through Housing First, a scheme that provides people with a home as early as possible, alongside the support they need to thrive. Ultimately, accessing pet-friendly accommodation meant she did not have to choose between finding a safe home and staying with her trusted companion.
After first experiencing homelessness in 2006, Benny faced challenges with substance use. His dog, Brandy, became a powerful source of stability and motivation, helping him stay substance-free for 13 years. Following Brandy’s death in 2019, Benny struggled with his grief and faced significant challenges with his mental health but thankfully found the road back to recovery with a new best friend in tow, Casper the Tamaskan dog.
Together, Benny and Casper received support from St Mungo’s to secure a stable home. Benny credits Casper as his lifeline that helped him get his life back on track, his constant companion provides an unwavering source of love and support showing how pet-friendly housing provides the comfort and stability needed for a brighter future.
Together, these individual stories illustrate why pet-friendly homelessness services matter. For someone sleeping rough, an animal may be their only consistent source of companionship, security and affection. Being asked to give up that relationship can become a major barrier to accepting accommodation and support. The book launches as Angela Rayner, housing secretary, has agreed that more pet-friendly accommodation is needed for people experiencing homelessness.
Although no official national count exists, sector estimates suggest that between 10% and 25% of people experiencing homelessness have a pet – potentially representing thousands of people across the UK. Yet just 21% of the 960 homelessness accommodation services listed in the Homeless England database reported accepting dogs, creating a significant barrier for people trying to leave the streets without abandoning their pet.2
St Mungo’s welcomes pets within its accommodation wherever possible, recognising that people should not have to choose between a safe place to stay and an animal they consider family.
The need for specialist homelessness accommodation remains acute. In autumn 2025, an estimated 4,793 people were sleeping rough in England on a single night – an increase of 171% since records began in 2010.3
Support from organisations such as St Mungo’s can help people who are rough sleeping or experiencing homelessnessaccess the stable accommodation and tailored support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Arwa said: “I had the option to give up Jacko for accommodation, but I refused. I would rather be homeless with my dog than without him. I hope when people read the stories they can understand our struggles. It makes me emotional to read mine and Jacko’s story, especially in the way Jeanne has written it so beautifully.”
Benny said: “I think my dogs saved my life. When I was sleeping rough, I was in a bad shape, but the dogs gave me back my purpose, responsibility and made me feel safe. Reading my story was a dream come true. I hope that when people read the book, they learn something about kindness, especially when this comes to people experiencing homelessness.”
Jeanne Willis, award-winning children’s author, said: “Children are naturally curious about the world around them, but homelessness can be difficult for parents to explain. Stories can help children understand experiences that feel unfamiliar, and animals make wonderful guides because they encourage us to see the world with empathy and kindness.
“I hope Stay! (Together) helps families begin important conversations, challenges assumptions about homelessness and reminds readers that behind every story is a person who deserves compassion, hope and the chance to rebuild their life.”
Lula Main, Project Manager at St Mungo’s, said: “For many people experiencing homelessness, a pet is far more than a companion. They can be a source of comfort, stability and unconditional love during the most difficult period of someone’s life. No one should have to choose between accepting support and staying with an animal they consider family. That is why St Mungo’s provides pet-friendly accommodation wherever possible.
“Through Stay! (Together) we hope to give parents an accessible way to begin conversations about homelessness while showing that, with the right accommodation and support, lives can be rebuilt. Benny and Arwa’s stories are powerful examples of what is possible, and we are incredibly proud to have been part of their journeys.”
Stay! (Together) is available to download free from the St Mungo’s website at https://www.mungos.org/staytogether as well as a narration of the book voiced by St Mungo’s ambassador Kerry Godliman (actress and comedian) and Gus Unger-Hamilton (musician, alt-J).
