Edward Masonet, a homeless man at the Bronx center for his second night, added: "There's a lot of babies in there.

She produced 18 reports on the Bronx center, most recently in February 2004.

Jim Connell, a spokesman for the Bronx center, said staff members tried to find housing for the Goodwins.

Last week, both women were at the Bronx center, where new parents were visiting to learn how to help their children develop language skills.

Ms. Rivera had an unpleasant experience recently at the Lincoln hospital, as have many of the parents at the Bronx center.

Last night, homeless people lined up at the Bronx center, making beds of blankets and chairs, preparing for another sleepless night.

Andrew Cuomo, the Governor's son, said he hoped the Bronx center would be a model for others.

Since then, the city has instituted more stringent eligibility requirements and cut the population inside the Bronx center by half.

The Bronx center, parts of which are still under construction, is at the heart of a new approach that city officials hope will make overnight shelters unnecessary.

Exterior construction is expected to be completed at the Bronx center this month and at the Brooklyn center in January.