Urania Cottage was Charles Dickens' attempt to help "fallen women." Fallen women were women who, often through no fault of their own, had had premarital sex. Becoming fallen could have been due to seduction, immorality, or poverty. Once a woman "fell" she was considered unredeemable, no matter the reason. Prostitution was seen as an end to respectable society.
Dickens went into this business with realistic expectations. He knew there would be relapses, desertions, and even fits of madness. He knew some would take the help and be grateful while others just could not be helped. Dickens liked being in the nitty-gritty parts of it. He liked being in the day-to-day activities in the home. He was very particular about it being called a home because it pulled away from the idea that it was an institution.
Dickens chose the women who he allowed in the home. He would go to prisons and workhouses and find eligible women. He would talk to them and give them his pamphlet, "An Appeal to Fallen Women." In the pamphlet, he told them about the future they were destined to have if they didn't change anything in their lives. Dickens made sure there were daily routines with structure. Dickens also taught them to read and write. He was horrified they didn't know how.