The idea of building houses for the poor originated when the second friary, Kolbe Franciscan Ashram, was started in Aluva in 1983. Most of the nearby houses were huts and from the stretch of our work in Aluva the friars used to help the immediate neighbors for building houses, toilets, repairing the existing ones etc. There were lot of requests from the families who had no property and houses of their own to have a proper shelters of their own. With this in view, in association with the help of Caritas Anthoniana and Fr. Egidio Kanil OFMConv., we began the Assisi Housing Project around fifteen years ago. Assisi Housing Project includes the Assisi Nagar, Padua Nagar and Amala Nagar at Aluva. Individual houses were also sponsored in other parts of Kerala. During this period of time more than hundred and fifty houses were built in different parts of Kerala. At present we have shifted our focus to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as there are more needy people in those parts. It was the tireless work of Rev. Fr. Ugolino Xerri OFMConv., that helped us to find sponsors for building houses in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Historical Sketh

June 14, 1994: Fr. Enrique Montero OFMConv., Secretary General for the Missions of the Order. blessed the first group of houses at Aluva sponsored by Carithas Anthoniana, Pauda.
September 8, 1994: Blessing of the St. Francis of Assisi Shrine at the entrance of the Assisi Nagar by Rev. Fr. Peter Damian Massengill OFMConv., General delegate for GPSC of the Order.

Administration

Director: Fr. George Munjanattu