Almes houses

[aceduce0]

Can anyone live in almes houses now,& do the local council still run them??

[dot.hawkes]

The ones at Charnock Richard near me are occupied by retired parishioners and they have to apply to the Diocese and the Parish Council I believe

[pugwash52]

Not sure if it is the same in every area, aceduce0, but my mother spent the last few years of her life in a great little Alms house. They used to be used for the Poor of the Parish, but in her case, she was selling her own home to look for something smaller, when her vicar approached her and asked if she would consider moving into one of the Church Almshouses. He said that in these times it was very difficult to find people to live in them,because they were not always up to the standards of council housing. Anyway she took up his offer and accordingly the church got the rent and she was very happy.

[dzug]

Traditionally alms houses have been run by charities - often the church - never local authorities. When they were set up the donor to the charity will have specified the qualifications to live in them.

A lot of this has changed - local authorities may have taken over some of them, others will have been sold off, some remain with the charity. It depends on local circumstances whether the original qualifications to live there have been relaxed or not.