The house was built in 1877 and was a government-funded project. Financial relief efforts had been previously discouraged because the many people believed it would encourage laziness (Johnson and Wilson, 306). After the Poor Law Commission and Amendment passed in England however, views began to change on relief for those unable to support themselves (Johnson and Wilson, 307). York was the first area in Upper Canada to provide a method of relief which they called The Society for the Relief of Strangers (Johnson and Wilson, 308). Houses of Industry started to become a common phenomenon with the passing of the House of Industry Act in 1837. It promoted the building of institutions to provide relief but also required the inmates to work (Finkel, 49). They also found that these institutions improved society by providing better care at a lower cost than outdoor relief (Montigny, 93).