IN 1971, A CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING GROUP IN ST. PAUL, MINN., WITH NO INITIAL INTENTION OF DEVELOPING A SHELTER, COMMENCED A TELEPHONE SERVICE TO PROVIDE WOMEN IN VIOLENT FAMILY SITUATIONS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS IN THE AREA OF FAMILY LAW. WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT WOMEN IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS ONLY EXPOSED THEMSELVES TO GREATER DANGER IN SEEKING LEGAL OPTIONS WHILE STILL PHYSICALLY LIVING WITH THEIR ASSAILANTS, POSSIBLE SOURCES OF OUTSIDE SHELTER FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE EXPLORED. INCORPORATING AS A MINNESOTA NONPROFIT CORPORATION, WOMEN'S ADVOCATES RAISED FUNDS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS FOR A WOMEN'S SHELTER. OPENED IN OCTOBER, 1974, THIS FIRST SHELTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAS SINCE BEEN INVOLVED IN VARIOUS SUPPORT ACTIVITIES. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE POLICE, FAMILY SERVICE, COMMUNITY PLANNING ORGANIZATION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, MAINTENANCE OF PRESENT FUNDING SOURCES AND DEVELOPING NEW SOURCES OF STABLE, LONG-TERM FUNDING, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH THE SHELTER IS LOCATED ARE SOME OF THESE. A TWO-PAGE ADDENDUM PROVIDES DATA ON THE NUMBER OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN HOUSED IN THE SHELTER FROM 1972 TO 1976 ALONG WITH CLIENTS' DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS. STATISTICAL FINDINGS ARE ALSO REPORTED ON THE DEGREE OF CORRELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM, BETWEEN WIFE ABUSE AND ABUSE OF CHILDREN, AND ON THE INCIDENCE OF INCEST.