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UK homelessness charity St Mungo’s has commissioned Stay! (Together), a free digital children’s book by Jeanne Willis and Alice Larsson. Based on the experiences of Arwa and Benny and their dogs, it is intended to help families talk about homelessness and the challenges of finding pet-friendly accommodation.
UK homelessness charity St Mungo’s has commissioned a free children’s book, Stay! (Together), to help families discuss homelessness through the real-life experiences of two people and their dogs. Written by award-winning children’s author Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Alice Larsson, the digital story also draws attention to how a lack of pet-friendly accommodation can complicate efforts to find support and a stable home.
The book follows Arwa and her dog Jacko, and Benny and his dogs Brandy and Casper. St Mungo’s says their relationships offered comfort and companionship during periods when they were homeless. The stories are told through the dogs’ perspectives, with the aim of making an unfamiliar and difficult subject more accessible to young readers.
According to the source report, Arwa fled to London in 2018, leaving Jacko behind, and they reunited three years later. In 2022, she lost her home after her flat was sold and struggled to find accommodation that would accept her dog. She chose to sleep rough with Jacko rather than give him up. St Mungo’s outreach team later supported her into a pet-friendly women’s service, and she subsequently moved into her own home through the Housing First scheme.
Benny first experienced homelessness in 2006. He said Brandy gave him stability and motivation, and that he stayed substance-free for 13 years. After Brandy died in 2019, Benny struggled with grief and his mental health; he later found companionship with Casper. St Mungo’s says it supported Benny and Casper to secure a stable home. These accounts are presented as the individuals’ experiences, not as evidence that one outcome applies to everyone experiencing homelessness.
When Housing Must Include Pets
The book brings attention to a practical barrier: people may be reluctant to enter accommodation if they cannot bring an animal they regard as family. St Mungo’s says pets can offer comfort, security and companionship, while a lack of animal-friendly options may make it harder for some people to accept support.
Figures cited by the charity underline the issue, though they are not a complete national count. St Mungo’s says sector estimates put the share of people experiencing homelessness who have a pet at 10% to 25%; it also says only 21% of 960 services listed in the Homeless England database reported accepting dogs. The source does not give the date of that database figure, and says there is no official UK-wide count of homeless people with pets.
The book’s stated purpose is educational, not a substitute for services or policy change. Its stories may give parents a starting point for questions about homelessness, while directing attention to the importance of accommodation that allows people to keep their animals.
children's books about homelessness
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The Research Behind the Book
St Mungo’s commissioned research among 1,363 UK adults in October 2026, according to the source report. It found that 24% of parents surveyed said they found it difficult to discuss homelessness with their children in an age-appropriate way. The report also says 92% of parents considered books useful for introducing social issues, 87% thought animal stories could help children process unfamiliar experiences, and 85% thought stories told from an animal’s perspective were particularly engaging.
These percentages describe responses in the charity-commissioned survey; the source does not provide further details about its sampling method or whether the results represent all UK parents. St Mungo’s says the book uses the dogs’ perspectives to encourage empathy and challenge assumptions about people experiencing homelessness.
Stay! (Together) is available as a free digital download from the St Mungo’s website. The charity also offers a narrated version voiced by its ambassador, actor and comedian Kerry Godliman, and Gus Unger-Hamilton of the band alt-J.
““I had the option to give up Jacko for accommodation, but I refused. I would rather be homeless with my dog than without him.””
— Arwa, whose story with Jacko appears in the book
Limits of the Published Figures
The source report does not state when the book was released, and gives no publication date beyond saying it is available to download. It also does not provide a direct link in the supplied material, so readers should visit St Mungo’s website to locate the download and narrated version.
The homelessness figures have important limits: the 10% to 25% estimate is not an official UK-wide count, and the source does not date the database snapshot behind the 21% of 960 services figure. Further information about the survey’s methods is also absent. The supplied report does not establish how widely the book will be distributed or whether St Mungo’s plans to measure its effect on children’s understanding.
How Families Can Access It
Families can look for the free digital book and its narrated version on St Mungo’s website. The source does not announce a later event, release schedule or follow-up evaluation. Any further information about distribution, additional formats or the book’s impact would need to come from the charity.
Parents using the story can treat it as an opening for age-appropriate questions about the experiences shown in Arwa’s and Benny’s accounts. The report does not prescribe how families should discuss the subject; the book’s stated aim is to support conversation with stories and encourage empathy.
Key Questions
What is Stay! (Together)?
Stay! (Together) is a free illustrated children’s book commissioned by St Mungo’s. Written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Alice Larsson, it tells stories based on the experiences of people who were homeless with their dogs.
Where can families get the book?
The source report says the digital book is available to download for free from the St Mungo’s website. A narrated version is also available, voiced by Kerry Godliman and Gus Unger-Hamilton.
Who are the people and dogs in the stories?
The book follows Arwa and Jacko, and Benny and his dogs Brandy and Casper. St Mungo’s says the stories are based on their experiences of homelessness and the support and companionship their dogs provided.
Why does the book focus on pets?
St Mungo’s says pets can provide companionship and comfort, while difficulty finding accommodation that accepts animals may create a barrier to support. The charity cites sector estimates that 10% to 25% of people experiencing homelessness have a pet, but says there is no official UK-wide count.
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