A topic that many people ignore or forget when discussing homeless women is menstruation. Many women experiencing homelessness face many barriers when it comes to accessing these sanitary products. Tampons and pads are among the least donated items for women experiencing homelessness, and purchasing them in the store can be too expensive.
According to the National Organization for Women, there are over 210,000 women that menstruate experiencing homelessness in the United States. These women are challenged to secure hygiene products, privacy to change such products, pain relief, and regular laundry and shower sources. Additionally, they are left without the basic resources needed to feel clean, safe, and secure. Thus, periods can be a monthly devastating phenomenon given the lack of a clean shelter to properly care for their menstruation.
