Transforming almshouses for the 21st century

This Housing LIN report explores the potential for almshouses to play a greater role in offering housing for vulnerable older people. 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. Set out in three parts, it explains:

• the distinctive characteristics of almshouses and what they can offer locally
• how progressive almshouses are adapting to enable them to off appropriate housing in the 21st century, and
• develops exciting ideas for the future of the almshouse movement