An article in the Financial Times on 18 June 22 prompted The Almshouse Association CEO to write into FT Letters and we were pleased see it published on 8th July.

The article, written by Joe Miller who is an FT correspondent in Frankfurt, is entitled ‘Inside the Fuggerei, the world’s oldest social housing complex’ and celebrates the 500th anniversary of the ‘Fuggerei’ almshouses in Augsburg, Germany, interviews residents and staff and shines a warm light on the benefits of small scale community living today.

[Copyright restricts us from publishing the article, but please find an extract below. [If you have a paid subscription with the FT, you can access the full article here. (if you have not visited the site before, you may be able to read the article without subscribing)]

“As it marks its 500th anniversary with a year-long celebration, the Fuggerei is attracting attention for its ability not only to shelter residents but to maintain a strong sense of community that is largely absent in surrounding commercial developments.

Doris Herzog, a social worker who supports the Fuggerei’s residents, says the community is so tight-knit it acts as an informal warning system. As an example, she points to how it has sometimes alerted her to serious illnesses among residents that might otherwise have been missed.”

Joe Miller | FT correspondent in Frankfurt

An informative article and wonderful to learn about almshouses in other countries, however, it was the title of the piece that prompted both Gerard Luckhurst and Nick Phillips CEO to put pen to paper – ‘Inside the Fuggerei, the world’s oldest social housing complex’. Excellent almshouse PR, but excuse us! Almshouses all over the UK are celebrating being part of over 1000 years of the almshouse history, with the oldest almshouse foundation still in existence in England thought to be the Hospital of St Oswald in Worcester founded circa 990.

Nick Phillips writes..

” Gerald Luckhurst’s letter (“Canterbury’s almshouses predate Augsburg’s”, July 2) is right to point out that some of Canterbury’s almshouses are celebrating their 900th anniversary, and thus are considerably older than the Fuggerei-run almshouse in Augsburg, which claims to be the world’s oldest social housing project and which you featured in House & Home (“Once upon a time in Bavaria”, June 18).

Almshouses were first established in the 9th century and today there are 36,000 people living in almshouses in the UK. We believe that more almshouse dwellings are being built today than at any time since the industrial revolution. Founded on the principles of compassion and companionship, this tried and tested charity model of community housing seems to look and feel right for today.

Although a thriving movement with charities expanding, I wonder where today’s philanthropists are to establish new almshouse charities for our changing demographic in housing need — refugees, young people leaving care, ex-offenders, and young families?

Nick Phillips Chief Executive The Almshouse Association Wokingham, Berkshire, UK

It will be interesting to see if Nick Phillips letter sparks some ideas in the hearts and minds of the next generation of almshouse founders and philanthropists – we do hope so, this 1000 year old housing model has lasted the test of time because it has so much more than bricks and mortar to offer the local community.

Posted 11 July 22