81 women who accessed counseling and case management services at a domestic violence shelter after three sessions reported that abuse decreased, life satisfaction increased, perceived coping ability improved, as did their satisfaction with the services. Shelter users, however, also displayed significant skill deficits in the inability to apprise or respond appropriately to abusive situations. Limitations on understanding how shelter services affect longer-term outcomes were ascribed to high drop out rates and the absence of follow-up measures. Researchers need to address the causes of drop-out and what specific interventions can meet the needs of short-term shelter users.