Helter Shelter

But the four former residents contacted by the Press say they never filled out any such surveys. "They were supposed to fax me one," says Lisa Thomas. "I've never seen it."

The lack of paperwork didn't stop the constable's office from approving the $2,220 bill for sheltering Thomas submitted by Women Helping Women. The cost was based on a fee of $74 per night; of that, $21 was slated for shelter and the rest for various services. But except for a handful of food items and a typed list of referrals, Thomas says she received no services. "That's ridiculous," she says of the $74 figure. "That's ludicrous. Shoot, I can stay at one of the Marriotts for that. And be treated a whole lot better."

Women Helping Women and the constable's office still have a few months to work out the kinks, as the grant period lasts until the end of February of next year. But the feds have already notified Precinct 4 that the grant won't be renewed next year. It's not clear how Women Helping Women will maintain the shelter, though in an interview before the grant committee, Turner promised that her organization would continue to deliver the services should the money run out.

If the shelter dissolves, however, others would pick up the slack. FamilyTime Foundation will have increased its shelter capacity by 16 beds at the end of the year, and NAM's shelter program will begin placing women in 1998. According to FamilyTime executive director Carol Price, Precinct 4 patrol officers already bring women to her shelter, even though the constable's office has a contract with Women Helping Women.

Closing the Women Helping Women shelter would suit many in the community just fine. "Faye's concept is wonderful," says one WHW volunteer, "but what goes on as far as helping the women, forget it.