Giuliani's Homeless Plan The Giuliani administration said it would present a homeless plan by May 1 that may limit shelter stays or challenge court mandates.

But a shelter stay can cost $1,200 a month, far surpassing the $600 to $800 that can put many in an apartment.

Released prisoners with a history of shelter use were almost five times as likely to have a post-release shelter stay.

Many had been repeatedly returned to the unit after one-night shelter stays, a practice also outlawed by court order.

Mr. Giuliani also proposed setting a 90-day limit on many shelter stays.

Sept. 17: Giuliani proposes drastically curtailing services for some of New York City's homeless, setting a stringent 90-day limit on many shelter stays.

Their shelter stays are not reimbursed by the Department of Social Services, either, which means shelters must pay for these residents out of their own resources.

He told us he'd like to see a program where limitations on shelter stay are imposed.

That right, unique to New York, means the city cannot limit shelter stays or require shelter residents to do chores or take part in social-service programs.

Though it was midmorning, school buses were still rolling in, disgorging families from their overnight shelter stays.