What are Almshouses?
Almshouses have existed for hundreds of years
Small groups of almshouses exist all over the country. They are often immediately recognisable as a row of small cottages, and are very often designed for single people. Many have been established for hundreds of years, created by wealthy benefactors for the benefit of the poor of the parish, or for specific people such as poor widows to save them from going to the workhouse upon bereavement of their partner. Groups of trustees were appointed to look after each property and to manage them in accordance with the wishes of the original benefactor. They all exist though as charities and abide by the rules set for charities by the Charity Commission and of our national body, The Almshouse Association.
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Over time, trustees have sometimes had to modify the purpose of the almshouse charity to ensure it is still relevant in modern times. The underlying purpose of almshouse charities though remains one of a common principle, to provide homes for people in need of housing, although each almshouse charity may give priority to certain categories of people.
No longer are the people in almshouse properties single and elderly, as trustees have gradually been able to modify their founder's wishes and help other categories of people in need of housing. Some almshouse charities also manage Relief in Need funds and other assets which can be used as the name suggests for providing small grants to help people in financial difficulty.
Whilst some almshouses may present an on-going maintenance challenge due to their age, many almshouses have been improved to bring them up to a modern standard. Indeed, some almshouses are new as additional money has been raised through various means to provide modern homes fit for purpose such as Fullers Almshouses currently under construction and due for completion in January 2026 in Stansted Mountfitchet.
A priority for the trustees of almshouse charities is that the property always belongs to the charity, in perpetuity, and that people living in those properties do not have any right to buy. Thus, almshouses will remain a provision and homes for people in need of housing forever, as per the founders' wishes.