We are a coalition of local constituents, students, activists, and members of the global PERIOD nonprofit, dedicated to progressing menstrual equity. We are calling on the state of California to mandate the provision of free menstrual products in all homeless shelters statewide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to protect the public health of our homeless population. While approximately half of the population menstruates monthly, millions in the U.S. struggle to do so safely and with dignity [1]. The inaccessibility of basic provisions and sanitary products, coupled with the frequent lack of privacy, has been exacerbated by a global pandemic that has created additional pressure on product supply and elevated the need for sanitary facilities to prevent the spread of disease [1]. Stigmas surrounding menstruation, as well as homelessness, only serve to create more barriers for those in need [1]. Without dependable access to menstrual products, menstruators in shelters are being placed in harm’s way.

Our evidence is as follows:

Those experiencing homelessness report infection caused by using tampons or pads for longer than recommended [2]. Individuals might use alternative products such as paper towels, newspapers, or no protection altogether, which increases the likelihood of infection [2,4].

Reproductive tract infections can result in negative pregnancy outcomes and a greater susceptibility to other reproductive infections, such as HPV—a leading cause for cervical cancer [2,3,4].

Currently, Maryland is the only state to pass a law requiring public funding for menstrual supplies in shelters. Publicly-funded shelters elsewhere in the U.S. are not required to budget for menstrual needs [2,5].

Many individuals cite domestic abuse as a primary cause of homelessness. Because they often leave their homes with few resources or are unable to qualify for financial aid, menstrual management can be a financial burden [5].

With limited resources, shelters, and homeless individuals are frequently forced to choose between provisions such as food or menstrual products [5].
Menstrual products are not eligible for purchase or reimbursement through various federal aid programs [3, 4]. Many individuals will resort to selling their food stamps in order to buy tampons or pads [5].

An average menstruator uses approximately 20 tampons/pads per cycle, whereas some shelters only provide about 2 pads per cycle [6].

Donations are an unsustainable and unreliable source for shelters to meet basic hygiene necessities. The unpredictability of resources leaves menstruators struggling to cope with, not only menstrual pains, but also the challenge of maintaining hygiene without regular access to showers [9]. Despite being highly requested, menstrual supplies remain some of the least donated items [3,7,8].

California has proven to be a leader in advancing reproductive justice. However, according to HUD statistics, our state also accounts for the nation’s highest homeless population [10]. As fellow residents and menstruators, we are urging California legislators to extend reproductive legislation to include protections for our community’s vulnerable population.

No one should have to suffer from period poverty in silence. Our hope is to learn from Maryland’s progressive example by enacting legislation and encouraging the growth of gender and health equity nationwide. With the help of the legislature, California can work towards achieving menstrual equity and reducing the burden of choosing between health and sustenance.

Help #EndPeriodPoverty in CA, sign and share the petition!

REFERENCES:

All credit to the students and activists leading this movement and pushing for legislative action. Special credit to the #FreeThePeriodCA organization for creating the template for this petition.

[1] PSI. (2020). COVID-19 Has Made Menstrual Health More Urgent Than Ever. Retrieved from https://www.psi.org/2020/03/covid-19-has-made-menstrual-health-more-urgent-than-ever/

[2] American Civil Liberties Union. (2019). The Unequal Price of Periods. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/report/unequal-price-periods

[3] American Civil Liberties Union. (2019). Menstrual Equity. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/report/menstrual-equity

[4] Parrillo, A., & Edward Feller, M. D. (2017). Menstrual hygiene plight of homeless women, a public health disgrace. Rhode Island Medical Journal, 100(12), 14-15.

[5] BRAWS (Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters). (2018). PERIODS, POVERTY, AND THE NEED FOR POLICY: A Report on Menstrual Inequity in the United States. Retrieved from www.law.udc.edu/page/LegislationClinic

[6] Kane, Jessica. (2017). Here’s How Much A Woman’s Period Will Cost Her Over A Lifetime. HuffPost. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/period-cost-lifetime_n_7258780

[7] Roos, Olivia. (2017). Homeless Women are in Need of Menstruation Products. Period. NBC Connecticut. Retrieved from https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/homeless-women-in-need-of-menstrual-products-period/19798/

[8] Allen, Samantha. (2017). The Fight to Give Homeless Women a Dignified Period. The Daily Beast. Retrieved from https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-fight-to-give-homeless-women-a-dignified-period

[9] Farmer, Liz. (2015). Menstruating While Homeless: An Ignored, Inescapable Issue. Governing. Retrieved from https://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/ gov-homeless-women-georgia-fells-femme.html

[10] U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2019) Homeless in California Statistics 2019. Homeless Estimation by State. Retrieved from https://www.usich.gov/homelessness-statistics/ca/