Ms. Martin agreed that the city could do better, and would, if there were more support for the city's plan to build smaller, therapeutic shelters scattered throughout the city.

It was enlisted by the city to help formulate its proposed dispersal of the homeless from barracks-style dormitories to two dozen smaller shelters scattered in every borough.

Mary Brosnahan, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, said there are about 7,000 people living in the 39 municipal adult shelters scattered across New York City.

Offering the first glimpse of its long-range plans for housing homeless single men and women, the Dinkins administration yesterday outlined a $258 million program to build 20 to 30 new, small specialized shelters scattered throughout the city.

There are about 1,200 shelters scattered across the country, many reporting that they must turn away three out of every four women who ask for help.

There are basic shelters scattered throughout the park but the best way to enjoy the area is to bring your own tent and supplies.

Restoring the 62-acre site to its former elegance would require cleaning, enlarging the duck pond to its original size, renewing signs at entrances, repairing the Bathing Pavilion, the restaurant, the administration building and columned shelters scattered around the property, improving parking areas, reconfiguring walkways and restoring plantings.

Political Suicide Ms. Wackstein was involved in drawing up a plan for 24 small shelters scattered through the city's middle-class neighborhoods.

When the 43 beds fill, the driver shuttles the rest to a dozen shelters scattered around the county.