The Almshouse Association commends the final report of the Affordable Housing Commission carried out by Lord Best and his colleagues. We agree with the commission that there is no ‘silver bullet’ which could fix everything within the current housing crisis.  What is needed is a multi-facet approach, which we believe almshouses should be a part.

The report is right to highlight the need for ‘a 21st century version of the extensive sheltered housing programme of times past’ to achieve both high-quality housing for the elderly, whilst freeing up larger properties for young families. Almshouses have been around for a thousand years, the earliest form of community housing but it is interesting that more are being built today than at any other time since the Victorian period.  Almshouses provide over homes for over 35,000 people in need. There is an almshouse in nearly every constituency in the country and we believe that almshouses are perfectly placed to provide first-class housing fit for the 21st century.

Our member charities already provide residents of all ages with accommodation which is affordable and encourages independence. Yet in recent years, misunderstandings of what almshouses are and how they work have held them back from fulfilling their full potential as the exemplar of community housing. At the Almshouse Association we pride ourselves on the service that our members provide and the well-being of their residents.

The Association hopes that the Government listens to the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Commission. We also look forward to engaging further with members across government and the housing sector to help fix our housing crisis, with almshouses playing a vital role in the solution.

A new age of almshouses is before us and with it comes a fantastic opportunity to provide truly affordable community housing, rooted in the communities they serve.

Full report can be found here

Posted 6 July 2020