City of Hamilton to provide free menstrual products at five recreation centres

Hamilton city council voted on Wednesday to spend about $121,000 on a pilot project that would offer free menstrual health products in five recreation centres around the city.

Director of Children’s Services and Neighbourhood Development, Grace Mater, put forth the 12-month pilot project to the city council. They are looking at both universal and targeted distribution of the products. 

Access to menstrual health products is a health equity issue. Especially for people who menstruate & face other barriers in an ever increasing climate of income disparity. Today at Emergency & Community Services Committee we passed a 12 mo pilot to enable access across #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/g5dQed9gZc

— Nrinder Nann (@NrinderWard3) February 21, 2020

Universal distribution will ensure the products are available in five recreation centres. Targeted distribution looks at a partnership with Hamilton Food Share and other local food banks to distribute the products through their existing food sharing network. 

Each recreation centre will be allocated $500 per month in order to purchase the items. According to the motion in council, menstrual health products will be available in 18 bathrooms with restocking and maintenance left with the custodial staff. 

Nonprofit group FemCare Health Initiative made recommendations while city councils were planning the pilot project. FemCare helps provide menstrual health products and information to municipalities. 

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• feminine hygiene
• Hamilton
• HamOnt
• Health
• pads
• rec centres
• tampons