Almshouse
/ˈɑːmzhaʊs/
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Understand 'almshouse' is an old concept, not commonly used in modern language except in historical contexts. 
The museum tour included a visit to a restored almshouse to show how the poor lived in the 1800s.
Pro Tip 2/3Charitable Roots
'Almshouse' implies charity and care for the less fortunate, often organized by religious or non-profit groups. 
In her will, she left a generous sum to the almshouse that had once cared for her grandfather.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Profit
Almshouses were not meant to make money but to offer assistance, different from modern homeless shelters. 
The town's almshouse operated for over a century, funded entirely by local philanthropists.