For the past two years, the ‘tampon tax’ has made waves in the news.
As anyone who has had their period knows, products like tampons, pads, or menstrual cups are not luxuries, but necessities. Yet until now, that’s what they’ve been taxed as: luxuries. Luckily, among a handful of other states, Florida has decided to overturn the infamous tax.
However, even with this progress, there’s still work to do. An especially pressing issue is homelessness and periods: how can you stay clean on low or no income?
The answer: not really, not safely.
Due to the price, hygiene products are not often donated to homeless shelters. Shelters can also be unsafe or not up to standards, thus leaving the streets as the only option for some women.
Every month, menstruating homeless individuals have to choose between “buying a meal or buying a pad,” as New York City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland says. The average price of pads is $5.84 and tampons are $7.62, which Affinity Magazine calculated to add up to about $70-90 annually. Additionally, the NY Times noted that menstrual products are not covered by food stamps, so it’s quite the steep price to pay for necessities. Interestingly, items like candy, alcohol, anti-dandruff and men’s hair loss shampoo, and condoms have escaped the luxury tax in certain states — but for the majority of America’s policymakers, menstrual products do not have that same privilege. “We are taxed for being women,” California Assembly member, Cristina Garcia, has stated. Menstruating isn’t something that can be stopped, and appropriate measures needed to be taken to keep people from suffering.
In Bustle’s video on homelessness and periods, homeless women detail items they’ve used in lieu of commercial products: napkins, towels, socks, toilet paper, plastic bags, cotton balls, makeup pads, and clothing. Ferreras-Copeland points out that these unhealthy substitutions, and lack of proper showers, can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Toxic Shock Syndrome is caused by bacterial infection and can be fatal, a problem that can be avoidable with your help!
#HappyPeriod and #HomelessPeriod are two initiatives trying to make a difference. According to #HappyPeriod’s mission statement, “#HappyPeriod provides menstrual products to anyone with a period that has low-income, is homeless, or living in poverty. We believe that no one should go without menstrual care. Everything we do, we believe in ending the stigma and breaking the taboo surrounding menstruation.” #HappyPeriod was founded when Chelsea VonChaz and her mother encountered a homeless woman wearing blood-stained clothing. VonChaz was shocked to learn that shelters severely lack hygiene products and took it upon herself to make a change.
The #HomelessPeriod organization has a similar story in its introductory video, in which a formerly homeless woman recounts how depressing the struggle to stay clean on her period was. The woman finishes her story by saying how much of a difference donated sanitary towels would have made. Luckily, both the #HappyPeriod and #HomelessPeriod (as well as a handful of other organizations) welcome donations of sanitary products and offer more information on their websites if you would like to get involved!
On another scale, you can sign the #HomelessPeriod’s petition. As noted in Bustle’s video, New York City is the first city in the United States to require public schools, jails, and homeless shelters to offer free tampons and pads. There are thousands of cities in the United States: use your voice and your time. Sign the petition against the tampon tax, donate, or spread the word. Do one, two or all three! We are lucky to have choices; we need to use our blessings to give back to those who need us.
Watch Bustle’s video here.