Health and Stability
Because talking about women’s menstruation is clouded with such a stigma, feminine products aren't donated to shelters as often. Things like water, toothbrushes, and food are donated so frequently they hardly ever run out, but feminine products such as pads and tampons are often forgotten about.
According a number of homeless women interviewed, dealing with their period is one of the greatest struggles while trying to survive on the streets.
Homeless women often lack access to facilities where they can change menstrual products regularly, meaning each period comes with a risk of infection. Homeless women have to use other forms to absorb the blood such as dirty rags or even just tissues which is extremely unsanitary and leads to the creation of infections like yeast infection and in some cases, cervical cancer.
On top of that, most homeless women don't have insurance or can't seek medical help. The lack of pads and tampons and the overall feeling of uncleanliness along with actual health problems caused by this leads to unstable mental health and lowers their confidence. This set back causes them to be unable to look for jobs not only hurts them but their whole families.
According a number of homeless women interviewed, dealing with their period is one of the greatest struggles while trying to survive on the streets.
Homeless women often lack access to facilities where they can change menstrual products regularly, meaning each period comes with a risk of infection. Homeless women have to use other forms to absorb the blood such as dirty rags or even just tissues which is extremely unsanitary and leads to the creation of infections like yeast infection and in some cases, cervical cancer.
On top of that, most homeless women don't have insurance or can't seek medical help. The lack of pads and tampons and the overall feeling of uncleanliness along with actual health problems caused by this leads to unstable mental health and lowers their confidence. This set back causes them to be unable to look for jobs not only hurts them but their whole families.
