Transforming almshouses for the 21st century

Almshouses have existed for a thousand years, but their role is not well-understood outside the almshouse movement. This paper argues that almshouse charities have much to offer their local communities in meeting housing need. Almshouse charities face challenges and opportunities in delivering specialist accommodation and improvements to existing housing: the paper gives examples of successful developments, and governance and management initiatives that have helped transform almshouse provision to meet housing need and complement local strategies for housing, care and support.