About
What are Almshouses?
An almshouse is a unit of residential accommodation (usually a house or flat) which belongs to a charity, it is provided exclusively to meet the charity's purposes (for example, the relief of financial need or infirmity) and is occupied or is available for occupation under a licence by a qualified beneficiary.
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There have been almshouses in the United Kingdom for more than 1000 years, with the oldest almshouse charity foundation still in existence founded in 990. Almshouses are the earliest form of social housing and originally set up by the Monasteries and often called hospitals where the frail and elderly could be safely housed and looked after.
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What is an Almshouse Charity?
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An almshouse charity is typically a charity which is established for the relief of financial hardship by the provision of housing.
Charity Status
We are a fully registered UK charity - our charity number is 246018.
To learn more, please visit the UK Charity Commission website.
Almshouse Association
We are also members of the Almshouse Association.
Their website provides a wealth of information, including an in-depth look into the history of Almshouses.
Registered Providers of Social Housing
You can also find us listed on the UK Government's Registered Providers of Social Housing.