Eliot accommodated cash-strapped returned soldiers (6)
I believe the answer is:
troops
'soldiers' is the definition.
(a troop is a group of soldiers)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for troops that I've seen before include "Cavalry" , "men" , "Army" , "Groups of soldiers" , "Bodies of soldiers" .)