The Overlooked Crisis of Period Poverty

At outreach in New York City, it is not uncommon for women who are experiencing homelessness to approach me and ask if I can help them access menstrual products. These requests are often whispered, almost as if they're ashamed to ask. But there's nothing shameful about needing basic hygiene—it’s a human necessity.

Women experiencing homelessness face unimaginable barriers when it comes to their health. Something as basic as having a private place to manage menstruation as well as enough supplies to carry them through their entire cycle can become an insurmountable challenge.

For the 16.9 million menstruating women in the U.S., period hygiene is a daily struggle. A 2019 study found that nearly two-thirds (64%) couldn’t afford period products, and one in five (21%) faces this challenge every single month. Almost half (46%) have had to choose between buying food and buying menstrual supplies. Many are forced to use rags, tissues, paper towels from public restrooms, or even cardboard. Using these options can quickly lead to infections, which are painful and difficult to care for. Even using proper feminine hygiene products for longer than they are intended for can cause issues.

This crisis can even impact mental health and education. Women experiencing period poverty are significantly more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. For young women, the impact is especially severe—approximately 84 percent of students have either missed or know someone who has not attended class due to a lack of access to menstrual products, putting them at an academic disadvantage simply because they can’t afford an essential item.

At City Relief, we do everything we can to provide feminine hygiene products at our outreach events. But resources are limited, and the need is overwhelming. That's why we also partner with organizations that provide showers and hygiene services—so that when a woman needs urgent help, she has a chance to care for herself with dignity.

Period poverty is about basic human dignity. No one should have to choose between food and hygiene, or suffer from preventable health conditions because they can’t access proper care.

If you'd like to help us provide more feminine hygiene supplies and connect more women to safe spaces where they can care for themselves with dignity, please consider donating so that we can help every single woman that we come across.

Just because we don't experience a particular hardship doesn't mean we should ignore it. Thank you for taking the time to reflect on these difficult realities with me and even more importantly, thank you for helping us end homelessness for as many people as possible!

With Gratitude,

Josiah Haken