To determine how this program has helped families over the long term, data were collected on 875 families who resided in the 60-day shelter between 1983 and 1987. Field interviews were conducted in 1989 with 201 best served and best placed of those families, exploring residential histories, employment, familial and demographic changes, service needs, and additional homelessness episodes. The findings showed that, in 1989, 64 percent of the families lived in Section 8 housing, 17 percent were in private rental or purchased homes, 2 percent were in other St. Louis homeless shelters, and the rest were in other public assistance situations. Approximately 16 percent of the subjects reported they had experienced additional episodes of homelessness after leaving Family Haven due to eviction, fire, overcrowding, adult and family abuse, loss of income, and substandard housing. While 28 percent of the respondents were employed at the time of the 1989 interview, 60 percent reported that AFDC was their principal source of income. Substantial proportions of the respondents reported major illnesses in their families, as well as psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and special education needs for their children. 1 table and 35 references