The Poor Relief Society of the city of Yeniseisk began operating on December 1, 1902.
The first chairwoman of the Society's board was elected as Vera Arsentevna Balandina (Yemelyanova) (1871–1943), the wife of the Yeniseisk gold mine owner Balandin.
In 1903, the Society had 180 full members. The Society's first charitable initiative was the opening of a canteen in December 1902 and a tea room for the poor in February 1903. For this purpose, the Balandins donated to the board a house that belonged to them. In 1904, the Society opened a night shelter for the poor; in 1907, it was used by 13,158 people. In 1915, the "Shelter and Nursery" was opened.