During the early nineteenth century, counties across the United States created poorhouses to assist financially-challenged residents. Historically, poverty-stricken people in most communities could apply for some assistance from local government officials, but this system proved very expensive. Often, officials would order destitute people from the community, if the people could not change their financial situation quickly.
To still provide but to reduce the cost of government assistance, many counties established poorhouses in the early 1800s. Poorhouses provided destitute people with shelter. They also commonly provided residents with employment opportunities. Women cared for the houses