Over the next few weeks the Homes at the Heart campaign, run by the National Housing Federation and supported by The Almshouse Association, is focusing on different issues affecting the housing market. This week the focus is on affordability and supply.

We are all very aware of the current housing crisis we currently face in our country. It is difficult to go a few days without hearing about the lack of supply or affordability of housing. Whether you are a private renter or first time buyer, the market can be incredibly difficult to access. Today, many of us struggle to have any savings at all, let alone the tens of thousands required to secure the deposit on a first home. Needless to say, it is clear we need to rethink our approach to housing policy to create high-quality and genuinely affordable homes which help young families looking to enter the market and the elderly who may be looking to downsize.

At The Almshouse Association, we pride ourselves on the longevity of the almshouse model and the benefits that it brings to those it serves. Almshouses are a thousand year old answer to an age old question around truly affordable, community housing. Today some 35,000+ people enjoy independent living in an almshouse community, but many people are not aware of almshouses or how they work. Historically, almshouses have been started through the philanthropic ventures of individuals who were looking to assist those struggling in their local area. The accommodation provided is of genuine high-quality with a focus on community engagement and interaction. These are homes which are intertwined in the communities they serve, run by the local community for the local community, keeping families and friends close by and encouraging new relationships to build and thrive.

Almshouses also have the benefit of being exempt from Right to Buy which means that they will continue to provide a permanent source of accessible housing to people in need in perpetuity. Residents do not pay rent but a Weekly Maintenance Contribution which is below the average rent in the area and is used to help maintain the upkeep of the almshouse. Residents live independently in a supportive community where they otherwise may have struggled with lengthy housing waiting lists or expensive private rent.

We believe that the solution to our country’s housing crisis is made up of many parts, one of which is almshouses. We want to see these beautiful buildings, steadfast in communities all over the country grow, so that no one is left without a safe, secure, comfortable place to call home.

If you would like to learn more about almshouses and The Almshouse Association, please take a look around our website. We will be more than happy to discuss how you can start your almshouse journey. 

#HomesAtTheHeart

Posted 10 August 2020