<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
September 30, 2000 Financial Data Schedule for NHP Retirement Housing
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000793730
<NAME> NHP Retirement Housing Partners I, L.P.
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 5,672,316
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 20,270
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0
<PP&E> 24,877,480
<DEPRECIATION> (6,789,359)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 23,960,268
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0
<BONDS> 20,157,826
0
0
<COMMON> 0
<OTHER-SE> (13,001,889)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 23,960,268
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,934,629
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 2,922,556
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 347,300
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,469,713
<INCOME-PRETAX> (1,804,940)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 0
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (1,804,940)
<EPS-BASIC> (42)
<EPS-DILUTED> (42)
</TABLE>
