👉 A workhouse is a place where people who are considered to be mentally ill, physically disabled or have been involved in criminal activities are kept under strict supervision and observation. The purpose of this institution is to provide medical care, mental health treatment, and rehabilitation for such individuals. In the United States, workhouses were established during the late 1800s as a means of providing psychological support to those who had served time in prison or other institutions. They often housed people with severe mental illnesses