Homelessness & Menstruation

Unseen Challenges: Homeless Women’s Struggles during Menstruation

A problem that is extremely overlooked is the struggle that many homeless women face when they are on their periods. According to NBC, “Tampons and pads are one of the least donated items for homeless women in the United States, despite being highly requested.” Because of this, many women are forced to find alternatives, like tissue paper, or are forced to just go about their day using nothing.

Figure 1. Study done by Hope and Comfort showing menstrual product preference in ages 12-19.  

In 2022, 20.82 million women were living below the poverty line in the United States (Statista). Imagine dealing with the obstacles that arise in being in this situation and having to deal with the struggles of being on your period! This can be extremely stressful and challenging for women to prioritize their health and hygiene, while trying to make ends meet. Furthermore, like we discussed in our Pink Tax Blog, the unfair prices of female hygiene products can make it difficult for women to buy these very necessary products, whether they are homeless or not. Because of this, many women have admitted to “finding a place to sit and remaining there, in one place, for hours to avoid embarrassing moments in public.” This can be extremely frustrating and demeaning.

So, what can you do? For many people, the thought of donating pads and tampons to shelters is one of the last things they think of. But, like stated before, this is one of the most requested items, and it is, quite clearly, a necessity. So if you want to truly make a difference and help out, donate female hygiene products to your local shelters or other items that are requested by women! You can also donate to Her Health Haven in our Donation tab: all proceeds will go into buying pads that will be donated to local shelters that prioritize women’s health and make it their mission to help women be more confident in their bodies. Let’s work together to end period poverty!

Sources:

Addressing Period Poverty and Hygiene Insecurity for Youth in Greater Boston a Pilot Program. 2020, https://hopeandcomfort.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Addressing-Period-Poverty-and-Hygiene-Insecurity-for-Youth-in-Greater-Boston.pdf.  

“Individuals below Poverty Line by Gender U.S. 2022.” Statista, Sept. 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/233145/number-of-people-living-below-the-poverty-in-the-us-by-gender/#:~:text=U.S.%20number%20of%20people%20living.

Roos, Olivia. “Homeless Women Are in Need of Menstruation Products. Period.” NBC Connecticut, 4 Aug. 2017, www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/homeless-women-in-need-of-menstrual-products-period/19798/#:~:text=Tampons%20and%20pads%20are%20one.