Shelter sign-in that handles overnight stays
To run shelter sign-in with AttendPad, create a room for your site and turn on overnight stays. Guests check in at a staff kiosk or by QR code, and their check-in stays open past midnight until they check out — it doesn't reset at the end of the day. Names and contact details are encrypted at rest.
How to set up shelter sign-in
- 1
Create a room for your site
Use roster mode for registered guests or open mode for drop-ins. Turn on overnight stays (Pro) and set a maximum session length, such as 24 hours.
- 2
Set up a staff-run kiosk
Put a tablet at intake in kiosk mode, locked with a staff PIN. Give guests a personal PIN if you need to confirm identity.
- 3
Guests check in and out
Optionally require a signature at check-in, check-out, or both. Check-ins carry past midnight until the guest checks out.
- 4
Review and export
The manage page shows who's present now, who checked out overnight, and any stays left open too long. Export by date to CSV.
Overnight stays, not a daily reset
Most attendance tools assume people leave the same day. With overnight stays on, a check-in stays present past midnight until the guest checks out. Stays that run past your maximum session length are flagged as unresolved for staff to close, rather than silently counted as present.
Daily auto-checkout is switched off for overnight rooms, so nobody is checked out by a clock at midnight.
Privacy for the people you serve
Guest names, emails, and phone numbers are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM. On an overnight room's public check-in page, AttendPad hides who is currently checked in, so the page can't be used as a list of who's inside. The staff kiosk still shows status for intake.
Know the limits
AttendPad is an attendance log, not a case-management or HMIS system, and it doesn't produce bed-night reports for funders yet. Exports give you each stay's check-in and check-out times by date, which you can summarize in a spreadsheet.
Features shelters use
Overnight staysPro
Check-ins carry past midnight, with a maximum session length you set.
Check-in/out signaturesPro
Require a signature on arrival, departure, or both.
Personal PINsPro
Per-guest PINs on the kiosk confirm the right person is checking in or out.
Photo verificationPro
Capture a photo at kiosk check-in for staff to confirm identity.
Encrypted records
Guest details are encrypted at rest, and you can delete any check-in or room at any time.
Team accessPro
Invite up to 5 staff to manage intake across shifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to track shelter check-ins overnight?
Use a system where a check-in stays open until the guest checks out, instead of resetting at midnight. In AttendPad, turn on overnight stays for the room and set a maximum session length; anyone past it is flagged for staff instead of being counted as present indefinitely.
Can guests check in without a phone?
Yes. Set up a staff-run tablet in kiosk mode. Guests tap their name (roster mode) or type it, and can confirm with a personal PIN or signature.
Is guest information kept private?
Personal details are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM. Overnight rooms hide who is checked in on the public check-in page, and you can delete any check-in, room, or your whole account at any time.
Does AttendPad replace our HMIS or case-management system?
No. AttendPad is an attendance log. Use it alongside your HMIS for fast, accurate check-in and check-out records that you can export to CSV.
Which plan do shelters need?
Overnight stays, kiosk mode, personal PINs, and check-in/out signatures are Pro features: $9/month or $79/year, with a 7-day free trial.
More ways teams use AttendPad
Try overnight check-in free for 7 days
3 free active sheets and 1 free room (up to 10 members), no credit card. Pro is $9/month with a 7-day free trial.