The setting up of workhouse，regarded as the “safety net” of the society， is an important achievement of setting up the New Deal to cope with social crisis and concern the underprivileged by the Hunan government in the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China. It has the historical inevitability of the establishment: solid thought foundation, inherent organization basis and urgent realistic needs. Its operation mechanism is also quite complete and exerts positive effect on Hunan’s social management, economic development, and cultural heritage. However, some historical limitations are also reflected in its development process.