SF Almshouse: a little anti-Irish sentiment, a little ghost story.

Long before we had protracted, bad-faith government arguments over the political football of welfare, food, and medical aid, we had ALMSHOUSES. If you were poor, sick, or hungry in the United States, this is where you went for help. Were they great? Probably not! Were they better than the workhouses in England that sold your body after you died? Yes! Join Courtney and Beth to learn about the Almshouse in San Francisco, which opened in the 1850s and is now a skilled nursing facility. We trace the origins of indoor and outdoor poor relief in the US, talk about what the women of the Almshouse were up to, and speculate wildly on whether people are buried on the property. Show Notes Laguna Honda - architectural review that includes history Encyclopedia Britannica article On Social Services Almshouse Women Book - In the Shadow of the Poorhouse by Michael Katz Social Welfare History Project KEDITS on Substack - modern labor economy analysis