Data were gathered from the shelters' regular records for the period between July 1984 and June 1985. The shelters gathered four types of data: (1) requests for services, (2) services provided, (3) demographic characteristics of people admitted, and (4) the status of family units leaving the shelter. A total of 11,323 women and 665 men contacted shelters during that period. The data analysis focused on the women. The typical sheltered woman had chosen to run in the moderate weather of spring or fall, was being sheltered for the first time, was 18 to 29 years old, was white, and was sharing shelter space with a disproportionately large percentage of black women. Clients typically remained at the shelter for 1 to 3 days and returned home to the abuser or went to stay temporarily with friends or relatives. Recommendations for further research, data tables, and 18 references.