The correct answer is A) civil societies.
In the 1800s, help for those living in poverty was mainly given by civil societies.
The structure of a Charity Organization Society began in the 1800s, first in England and the in the United States. This new kind of organization receive money or funds from private organizations or directly from other people that wanted to support poor people. These civil societies were the ones who helped those who lived in poverty. For instance, in 1820, John Griscom founded The Society for the Prevention of Pauperism.