Win Brief for DC on PATH Audit

Last year, Win noticed a troubling pattern in its shelter admission data: a high percentage of families entered Win shelter multiple times in one year. Further data analysis showed that the majority of families with multiple admissions returned after a brief shelter stay, which had ended because the Department of Homeless Services found them ineligible for services. Win also saw that, compared to the previous year, an increased number of children who were admitted to Win shelter were found ineligible. Concerned that families in need were cycling in and out of shelter without achieving housing stability, Win conducted a series of focus groups to learn more about the experiences of families and the issues that underlie what the data showed.