This 5-Pound Pig Helps DC's Homeless Find Hope

A 5-pound pig is quietly changing lives on the streets of Washington D.C., one gentle interaction at a time.

Her name is Synergy, and she's the newest team member at The H3 Project, a grassroots nonprofit working to end homelessness in the nation's capital. Founder Ami M. Angell adopted the hypoallergenic Juliana pig in March 2025, and she's already proving to be a game changer for people who've spent years avoiding case workers and support services.

"We have to think outside the box, because every individual is unique," Angell told The Washington Post. "What works for one individual may not work for another person."

For seven years, Angell worked with one woman in her late 60s who consistently refused help. Then she met Synergy, and everything changed.

"Now she wants to work with me," Angell said. "As long as the pig is right there, she will answer my questions, she will do the work with me. She's moving forward because of Synergy."

The tiny pig accompanies Angell on daily outreach shifts from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., visiting Union Station and major downtown hubs. She's learned tricks like spinning in circles, jumping over hurdles, and even playing a toy piano. These simple performances create moments of joy that lower the barrier to accepting support.

"When she comes around, seems like she's a magnet," H3 client Randall Baldree explained. "Everybody wants to be around her. It helps with the emotional support."

The H3 Project has serious credentials backing up its creative approach. In 2025 alone, the organization provided nearly 2,000 essential items to people in need, administered 217 doses of Narcan, helped 234 people apply for SNAP or Medicaid benefits, and managed 93 housing matches.

The Ripple Effect

Synergy represents a growing understanding about the power of animal companionship for homeless populations. In California, a pilot project that made homeless shelters pet-friendly helped 886 people move into permanent housing with their pets, a higher success rate than the statewide average.

Experts now recognize that pets provide stability and support that traditional case management sometimes can't. For people experiencing homelessness, these relationships can prevent substance use and motivate them toward stability.

Angell chose the name Synergy intentionally. "I just wanted her to ground folks and remind them that there's always more to life and more to be than what is right now," she explained. "For my homeless clients, they aren't defined by who they are now. This is just one piece of their life. They deserve to be somewhere better."

When Synergy isn't working directly with clients, Angell uses her as a conversation starter with the general public to raise awareness about homelessness. The pig draws crowds, opens hearts, and creates opportunities to educate people about the complex challenges of housing insecurity.

Angell knows Synergy won't end homelessness alone, but she believes the little pig gets people one step closer to relief, one gentle interaction at a time.