THE SHELTER RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHICH CONDUCTED THE EVALUATION. EVALUATORS INTERVIEWED SHELTER ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AND COMPILED DATA FROM A SAMPLE OF 51 CASE FILES. THEIR REPORT COVERS THE NUMBER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SHELTER CLIENTS, SHELTER SERVICES, SERVICE OUTCOMES, AND COSTS. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE SHELTER HOUSED 400 WOMEN AND CHILDREN (MORE THAN TWICE THE NUMBER EXPECTED). THE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY OF THE SHELTER WAS 63 PERCENT OF ITS CAPACITY. THE AVERAGE DAILY COST PER RESIDENT WAS $26.66. ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ONE-HALF OF THE WOMEN ADMITTED TO THE SHELTER HAD INJURIES AT THE TIME OF THEIR ADMISSION, MANY APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN ABUSED PHYSICALLY IN THE PAST OR TO HAVE SUFFERED FROM EMOTIONAL ABUSE. THE SHELTER'S RECORDS INDICATE THAT 23 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN ENTERING THE FACILITY HAD BEEN ABUSED IN SOME WAY. THE EXTENSIVE USE OF THE FACILITY INDICATES THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR SUCH A RESOURCE IN THE MADISON AREA. SERVICE OUTCOMES, BEYOND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SHELTER IS USED, ARE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS. HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT 53 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN LEAVING THE SHELTER WENT INTO NEW LIVING SITUATIONS MAY INDICATE THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER HELPS BATTERED WOMEN MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SHELTER'S FACILITY AND OPERATIONS IS INCLUDED. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)