Temporary Shelters Revenue Benchmarks
The average temporary shelters business in the United States generates $1.7M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,617 temporary shelters businesses in the U.S., employing 84,724 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $45K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Temporary Shelters Business Actually Do?
Emergency shelters — homeless shelters, DV shelters, disaster shelters, refugee resettlement. Grant-funded and contract-funded non-profits.
Who buys: Government contracts (HHS, HUD), donations, foundation grants.
Average Revenue
$1.7M
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$74K
per year
Total Businesses
3,617
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$226K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$45K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Temporary Shelters Charge?
Emergency shelters (homeless, DV, disaster) mostly grant/contract-funded; some charge minimal fees.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Cost per bed-night (funded) | $40–150 to run |
Government contract per bed | $25,000–50,000/year |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete temporary shelters business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a temporary shelters business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the temporary shelters industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Medical supplies & pharma | $13 | $225K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $868K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $96K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $32K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $289K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $226K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
6.42%
openings/year
Closure Rate
4.74%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.69%
annual
Businesses Closed
448
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Temporary Shelters Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
10 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a temporary shelters business do?
- Emergency shelters — homeless shelters, DV shelters, disaster shelters, refugee resettlement. Grant-funded and contract-funded non-profits. Government contracts (HHS, HUD), donations, foundation grants.
- How much do temporary shelters charge?
- Emergency shelters (homeless, DV, disaster) mostly grant/contract-funded; some charge minimal fees. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average temporary shelters make per year?
- The average temporary shelters business generates $1.7M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $226K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many temporary shelters businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,617 temporary shelters businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 84,724 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a temporary shelters business?
- Startup costs for a temporary shelters business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the temporary shelters industry?
- The average employee in the temporary shelters industry earns $45K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The temporary shelters industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.7% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (6.4% entry vs 4.7% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 78% of temporary shelters businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 448 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the temporary shelters industry earns $45,285/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 4,220 establishments employing 88,998 people, the typical business has about 21 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The temporary shelters industry has grown 36% since 2000 (from 8,302 to 11,267 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Temporary Shelters revenue with other industries: