<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from Shelter
Properties  I 2000 First  Quarter  10-QSB and is  qualified  in its  entirety by
reference to such 10-QSB filing.

</LEGEND>

<CIK>                               0000316220
<NAME>                              Shelter Properties I
<MULTIPLIER>                                           1,000


                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                        MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                                 1,501
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            134
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                21,557
<DEPRECIATION>                                        15,103
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         8,986
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                               11,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                   0
<OTHER-SE>                                            (2,919)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               0
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       1,389
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       1,067
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       233
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            0
<INCOME-TAX>                                               0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        0
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                             322
<EPS-BASIC>                                            21.27 <F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0
<FN>

<F1> Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet. <F2> Multiplier is 1.

</FN>