A bed, a meal and a door that opens to anyone.
General and professional liability, abuse and molestation, property and workers' comp for emergency shelters, transitional housing, day centers and warming centers.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed September 2026 · How this page is researched
Open doors are the exposure
A shelter cannot screen its guests the way a landlord screens tenants, and it houses people in crisis in close quarters. The claims that follow are assaults between guests, falls and medical events overnight, allegations against staff, and property damage in buildings that run around the clock.
The nonprofit and human services programs I use write shelters, transitional living and day centers, with abuse coverage and professional liability for case management. They want the bed count, staffing overnight, security practice and loss runs; housing that is mostly apartments is rated differently.
- General liabilityGuests, volunteers and the public.
- Professional liabilityCase management and program decisions.
- Abuse and molestationGuests who cannot protect themselves.
- PropertyThe building, kitchen and furnishings.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Program: emergency, transitional or day services, and who you serve.
- Capacity: beds, nightly census and length of stay.
- Staffing: overnight coverage, security and background checks.
- Building: owned or leased, sprinklers, and how much is apartments.
- Funding: county contracts and their insurance requirements.
- History: current policies and 4 years of loss runs.
Shelter insurance, answered
Do county contracts set our limits?
Almost always. Send me the contract and I match the limits and additional insured wording before the policy is bound.
Are our transitional apartments covered on the same policy?
Up to a point. Programs cap how much of the property can be apartments; beyond that the housing is written as habitational property on its own policy.
Is abuse coverage really needed for adults?
Yes. Shelter guests are vulnerable adults, funders expect it, and standard liability forms exclude it.
We are new. Is coverage available?
Yes, through a market that takes new ventures. The main nonprofit programs want 4 years of loss runs first.
Do you offer homeless shelter insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. Sam Alishahi is licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and places policies there directly. In Florida, where Sam's licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime. The shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Tell me about your program. I'll shop it.
Beds, staffing and your contracts are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. Your application link comes by email right away, and you get an update at every step until your quotes are ready.
(877) 711-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.