Public care of the poor in Illinois began in 1819. In
that year, the General Assembly passed a law mandating public care and
maintenance of those unable to support themselves and without family
support. County overseers of the poor farmed out care of the destitute
to private citizens.1
In 1839, this system was reauthorized. County
commissioners’ courts were also authorized to establish county
poorhouses, at their own discretion, to replace the farm-out system; to
hire keepers of the poor, and to levy a property tax for poorhouse
support.2 This poorhouse authorization was
renewed in 1845 and 1861.3
An 1874 law required all keepers of county poorhouses
to keep books of account.4 In 1917, counties
were authorized to establish joint poorhouses and poor farms with other
counties; and in 1919, the county poorhouses’ names were changed to
county homes.5 The county home law was
renewed in 1935 and 1945.6
In 1949, the Public Assistance Code was passed,
making relief of the indigent a function of the new county departments
of welfare. County homes were reauthorized only for care of infirm or
chronically ill persons; counties were specifically forbidden from
placing destitute but physically healthy persons in county homes.7
In 1967, the Public Aid Code repealed the county home laws and
deauthorized the county homes remaining in Illinois.8
