Officials of the new Federal task force estimate there are 200,000 homeless mental patients nationwide.

Mr. Stoops said local and federal laws were murky, at best, over where homeless patients should be discharged.

He said, "The responsibility of providing adequate housing for homeless psychiatric patients rests with the state."

The city argued that homeless mental patients remained the state's responsibility because of deinstitutionalization.

In the past, officials said, most homeless patients have not requested such hearings.

Students will provide dental health education for homeless patients as well.

Many of the homeless patients arrive wearing clothes that are lice-infested or beyond repair.

In addition, homeless patients often have special clothing requirements.

In the study, one group of homeless patients received standard treatment at Bellevue, which for some included further care at a state psychiatric center.

They said he sometimes saw homeless or indigent patients for nothing.