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Not a Nice Place to Visit and I Would Not Want to Live There

© Sharon K. West

When hard times come and moths are the only things in our wallets, our present society has various welfare safety nets in place to catch us. However, back in the 19th century, the solution to the problem of no money was the Poorhouse. Neighbors, relatives and churches were ready and willing to help those in need, but if this first line of reserve was unable or unavailable to assist someone, the person was sent to the Poorhouse.

The Poorhouse was not considered a debtor's prison, but a place for paupers. If anyone was caught begging, that person was also sent to the Poorhouse. Before the advent of Welfare and Social Security in the United States, the Poorhouse was the main form of economic security for the elderly, mentally ill, handicapped and blind. Unfortunately, a trip to the Poorhouse labeled a person as a social or moral outcast.

Poorhouses, or Almshouses as they were also called, were located all across the United States. If a person was considered a long-term pauper, he or she was sent there; however, if temporary assistance could be a solution, the person was placed on "outdoor relief," and could stay out of the Poorhouse until they were able to support themselves. Poor Farms had the added feature of acreage adjacent to the house, allowing occupants to grow their own food and aid in the expense of their upkeep. Workhouses were close in nature to penal institutions.

An elected official in each community or district was in charge of the Poorhouse. He was called the "Overseer of the Poor." It was his job to determine if people could be given temporary help to continue living independently or if they must be sent to the Poorhouse. All those who could not support themselves had no choice but to go to the Poorhouse.

The Poorhouse Story has a host of fascinating information about Poorhouses, and lists two well-known historical figures that resided in the Poorhouse at one point during each of their lives. They were Annie Oakley and Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher. You can find a list of Poorhouses by State at this site as well.

Interestingly, according to the Poorhouse Story, before the existence of Poorhouses, one method of dealing with the poor was that they were auctioned off by a peculiar way of bidding. Paupers and their families were put up for bid at public auction and were sold to the lowest bidder. The bidder then received labor from these people in return for providing them food, clothing, housing and health care, a form of indentured servitude.

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