Nicky Pagnotta, the shelter director, talked recently about her work and about the special challenges of kitten season.

"We are accepting input from all shelter directors and providers to evaluate the program and determine whether or not to go forward with it."

But in the last 15 years, shelter directors, researchers and other experts say, a growing number have been fleeing broken families that are not so easily mended.

"As proof, we have received calls from workers saying shelter directors have threatened them with layoffs."

"Ask me again tomorrow, I might have another number for you," said Vanessa VanOrden, the shelter director.

What he really needed was to figure out a persona for his meeting with the shelter directors.

Women stay at the shelter for an average of seven months to a year, said the shelter director, John Miranda.

Although shelters are supposed to be drug-free, drug use is often open and widespread, say shelter directors and advocates for the homeless.

The homeless count, she said, was based in part on lists of shelters provided by local governments or shelter directors and others.

The shelter director, Mr. Lessinger, said the victim was well known to employees of the center, which provides beds to about 1,000 homeless people each night.