Period Poverty: Menstruation and Access to Hygiene in the Homeless Community

 

In 2022 Scotland became the first country to implement legislation making menstrual hygiene products free and accessible to all who need them. The country implemented this legislation because menstrual products were so expensive that many people were opting to not purchase them and instead using items like socks and newspapers to manage their cycles. The legislation also mentions verbiage to eliminate bureaucracy and shame for people utilizing free menstruation products which can often be an unwanted effect of the legislation that makes period products more accessible. ( Claire Diamond, “Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free”, BBC, (2022), https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880)

People in low-income and marginalized communities especially the unhoused population are most affected by inaccessibility to menstrual care products and often face a lot of shame. Many unsheltered people do not have access to the facilities or mean to meet their hygiene needs. Access to menstrual hygiene products is a human right, and unhoused communities should not be made out to feel ashamed of basic human functions because they cannot afford already overpriced menstrual hygiene products to care for themselves. 

Dignity Grows is a philanthropic project facilitated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Women’s Philanthropy, and one chapter with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland serves our community in Portland. Dignity Grows “provides monthly personal and menstrual hygiene products to women, girls, and individuals who menstruate, who cannot afford them.” (“Dignity Grows”, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, (2023), https://www.jewishportland.org/dignitygrows)

Dignity Grows says there are three ways you can get involved with their mission to make menstrual hygiene more accessible. First, volunteer to assemble the hygiene tote. Second, sponsor a tote for $10. Each Dignity Grows Tote includes a month’s supply of sanitary pads and tampons, toothpaste, a toothbrush, soap, deodorant, and shampoo. Third, join a Dignity Grows committee. 

If you want to volunteer, donate, or learn more about Dignity Grows follow this link!