World’s oldest social housing | The Fuggerei since 1521

The Fuggerei is the world's oldest social housing complex still in use. It is a located within the city of Augsburg, Bavaria. It takes its name from the Fugger family and was founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger. It celebrated 500 years of Fuggerei in 2022.
The Fuggerei was heavily damaged by the bombings of Augsburg during World War II but has been rebuilt in its original.
There is no shared accommodation in Fuggerei; each family has its own apartment, which includes a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a tiny spare room, altogether totalling about 60 square metres. Ground-floor apartments have a small garden and garden shed, while upper-floor apartments have an attic. All apartments have modern conveniences such as television and running water

[@morbvsclz]

The rules are directly from the Middle Ages. This is not social housing from the state, but from a private foundation set up by Jacob Fugger, who was in relative terms one of the richest Men who ever lived. And he was devout catholic, so he believed these rules would save to souls of those who live there...
They basically still follow his last will and testament with this. So his very old fashioned rules about religion remained unchanged through the centuries, as well as the fix rent, which adjusted by 500 years of inflation is now basically zero and the finance today still come the fortune he held 500 years ago and forestry of lands he bestowed to his foundation. These rules are probably untouchable and legally tied together, even if they seem very outdated now.
Basically billionaires trying to clear their conscience for having more than a single human could possible desevere, while millions starve by putting their money into charitable foundations is not actually a new invention 😀
Still somehow great to see that it is still going strong and this really seems Fugger left a lasting positive legacy.

[@KhmerH20]

very interesting. will need to learn more about this.

[@davidmathis-xd6nf]

Requiring fidelity to the catholic church is not too much to ask in return for living for free in that lovely community