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L <br />or more agreed. Neither difficulties nor ratings of staff respect and support differed significantly <br />among respondents, based on demographic characteristics. <br />Detailed findings showed specific differences in particular needs across race/ethnicity, age, <br />education, presence of children, and language in which surveys were completed (Hispanics who <br />filled out English and Spanish surveys were compared). Differences in survivors' experiences were <br />also found related to shelter capacity. <br />The study shows that domestic violence shelters address compelling needs that survivors <br />cannot meet elsewhere. Shelter programs provide a complex array of services to victims of abuse <br />and their children; most prominent are safety, information, help with children and help with <br />emotional distress. Most needs are met for most residents, and most problems are resolved. <br />Implications for policy and programming are discussed, and include expanding diversity of shelter <br />staff, expanding conflict resolution training for staff (and perhaps offering it to residents), re- <br />consideration of time limits and eligibility requirements for shelters that have them, and further <br />research on the full array of services (including non-shelter services) provided by domestic violence <br />programs. <br />*** <br />5 <br />