<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from SHELTER
PROPERTIES  III 2000 Third  Quarter  10-QSB and is  qualified in its entirety by
reference to such 10-QSB filing.



<CIK>                               0000353282
<NAME>                              SHELTER PROPERTIES III
<MULTIPLIER>                                           1,000


                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                      JUL-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                        SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                                   785
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            184
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                                0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           0 
<PP&E>                                                28,092
<DEPRECIATION>                                        16,878
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        13,093
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      0 
<BONDS>                                                7,738
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                   0
<OTHER-SE>                                             4,390
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          13,093
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       4,300
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       3,690
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       514
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            0
<INCOME-TAX>                                               0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        0
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                             610
<EPS-BASIC>                                            10.98 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0


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