Your animal may be more than a companion. They may be an important part of your emotional well-being.
For some people, having an animal at home provides meaningful support in managing the effects of a mental health disability. If this describes your experience, you may qualify for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) housing accommodation.
I'm Grace Annan, a licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of clinical experience. I provide individualized online ESA evaluations for adults in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Washington, DC.
My goal is to make the process clear and accessible while ensuring that every evaluation is handled with clinical care and professional integrity.
Home should be a place where you feel supported. For individuals with a qualifying disability, an emotional support animal can play an important role in their ability to live comfortably and independently.
Depending on your circumstances and applicable housing laws, an ESA housing accommodation may allow you to:
Live with your animal in housing with a no-pets policy, when a reasonable accommodation is required.
Avoid additional pet rent, pet deposits, and pet fees for a qualifying assistance animal.
Request an exception to certain animal restrictions when supported by a disability-related need.
Keep an important source of emotional support at home, where it can make a meaningful difference in daily life.
These protections are not automatic and depend on individual circumstances, applicable law, and the housing provider's legal obligations.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal Letter?
An Emotional Support Animal letter is professional documentation that may support a request for reasonable accommodation in housing.
An ESA provides emotional support that helps alleviate one or more effects of a person's disability. Unlike an ordinary pet, an ESA may qualify as an assistance animal under applicable fair housing laws.
As a licensed clinical social worker, I evaluate whether an individual has a qualifying disability and whether an animal provides disability-related support that may justify a housing accommodation.
When my assessment supports that need, I can provide an ESA housing letter documenting my professional findings.
I provide ESA evaluations and letters for housing accommodations only.
Request Your Free Assessment
Complete Your Clinical Assessment
Receive My Clinical Determination
Receive Your ESA Housing Letter
Start by contacting me to request an ESA evaluation.
I'll provide instructions for completing a confidential assessment through a secure system.
There is no charge for the assessment.
You'll complete questions about your mental health history, current functioning, and how your animal helps alleviate the effects of your condition.
I'll review your responses and conduct a consultation or request additional information as clinically necessary. This allows me to make an individualized determination rather than relying on a questionnaire alone.
After reviewing the information, I'll determine whether an ESA housing letter is clinically appropriate.
If I determine that you qualify, I'll notify you and provide instructions for payment.
If I determine that you do not qualify, there is no charge.
In some cases, additional assessment or an established treatment relationship may be necessary before I can issue documentation.
Once your evaluation is complete, a letter is clinically appropriate, and payment has been received, I'll prepare your documentation.
Letters are generally delivered electronically within 24–48 hours after payment.
The timeframe applies only after all clinical and administrative requirements have been completed.
Straightforward Pricing
Free Assessment: $0
Complete the initial assessment and receive an individualized clinical determination at no cost.
ESA Housing Letter: $105
Pay only if I determine that a letter is clinically appropriate and you choose to proceed.
There is no obligation to purchase a letter following the assessment.
An ESA letter is never guaranteed. Clinical decisions are based on the information gathered and my professional judgment.
Your Privacy Matters
Your mental health information deserves to be handled with care and confidentiality.
I use secure systems designed to support HIPAA compliance for clinical assessments, consultations, and the handling of sensitive health information. Your information is used for the purposes of evaluating your request, maintaining appropriate clinical records, and providing documentation when clinically appropriate.
I do not disclose your clinical information to a housing provider without your authorization, except as otherwise permitted or required by law.
To protect your privacy, please do not include diagnoses, medical records, or other sensitive health information in your initial website inquiry. I'll provide instructions for securely completing your assessment.
States Where I Provide ESA Evaluations
I offer online ESA evaluations to eligible adults physically located in:
New York
New Jersey
Connecticut
Delaware
Washington, DC
I do not provide ESA evaluations or letters in Florida.
Availability and the documentation I can provide depend on applicable state requirements, clinical circumstances, and professional licensing rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an ESA letter help me live with my animal in a no-pets building?
Possibly. Under applicable fair housing laws, individuals with a qualifying disability-related need for an assistance animal may request a reasonable accommodation to a housing provider's pet restrictions. An ESA letter can help document that need when appropriate.
Will I have to pay pet rent or pet deposits?
When an assistance animal accommodation is legally required, housing providers generally cannot impose pet-specific rent, fees, or deposits for that animal. However, residents may remain responsible for damage caused by the animal.
Is the ESA assessment really free?
Yes. There is no charge for my assessment and clinical determination. The $105 fee applies only if I determine that an ESA letter is appropriate and you decide to receive it.
Does everyone who completes the assessment qualify?
No. I evaluate each request individually. An animal providing companionship or comfort does not, by itself, establish eligibility for a disability-related housing accommodation.
Can I get a letter for an animal I already have?
Yes. An animal you already own may qualify if my evaluation establishes a disability-related need for its support.
Do I need an existing mental health diagnosis?
You must have a qualifying disability and a disability-related need for the animal. An existing diagnosis may be relevant, but a diagnosis alone does not automatically establish eligibility. I will assess the information available and determine whether I have an adequate clinical basis to provide documentation.
How long does it take to receive my letter?
When a letter is clinically appropriate, I generally deliver it electronically within 24–48 hours after payment and completion of all required assessment steps.
Will my landlord automatically accept the letter?
No. An ESA letter supports a housing accommodation request but does not guarantee approval. Housing providers evaluate requests under applicable law and may request additional reliable information in appropriate circumstances.
Do I need to register or certify my emotional support animal?
There is no official federal ESA registry or certification required to request a housing accommodation. What matters is whether you have a qualifying disability-related need and whether the request is supported by reliable documentation when necessary.
If you believe your animal provides important support related to a mental health disability, I invite you to begin with a free assessment.
I'll review your circumstances and determine whether an Emotional Support Animal housing letter is clinically appropriate.
ESA evaluations are clinical services, not automatic approvals or certifications. Letters are issued only when supported by an appropriate professional assessment. I do not guarantee acceptance by any housing provider or a particular accommodation outcome.