City of Welland Commits to Tackling Period Poverty Long-term
The City of Welland has recently joined the growing movement to ensure community members have access to period products. A motion brought forth by Councillor Sharmila Setaram last May resulted in a successful pilot program which became a permanent fixture for the City’s public facilities five months later.
The program seeks to remove barriers for people experiencing poverty by providing free period products in all public facilities.
“I began looking at the rates of poverty in Welland and different ways we, as a municipality, can support people living here,” recalled Setaram. “Providing products in city facilities was an easy and cost-effective way to have an immediate impact.” The motion outlined that the City of Welland has an opportunity to be a leader within the Niagara Region taking concrete action to reduce period poverty and improve access to menstrual products and health equity.
The program seeks to remove barriers for people experiencing poverty by providing free period products in all public facilities. Products are visible in both men’s, ladies and gender-neutral restrooms across the city. “We put them in all washrooms because we wanted to remove all barriers for people,” Setaram explained. “This way no one needs to feel embarrassment or need to ask someone for products. They are just there and free to use for anyone.”
Period poverty “disproportionately impacts youth, single mothers, Indigenous peoples, Black and other racialized communities, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, people living with disabilities, gender diverse individuals, and those who live in remote areas” (Statistics Canada) where costs can be much higher.
Something as simple as placing a few essential menstrual products visibly on restroom counters, can have a significant impact on the lives of community members eliminating the barriers created by period poverty in our community. By supporting individuals with their basic needs, we enable them to allocate their resources to other essential items such as food or utility bills because no one should ever have to choose between period products and other basic necessities.
When asked how the pilot program become permanent, Setaram explained that it was an obvious win for the community that “just makes sense.” The cost was low and the feedback received was “overwhelmingly positive,” she said. After the five-month trial period, the Facilities Division made the recommendation to extend the program to remaining restrooms due to its relatively low commitment, low financial impact, and high community impact.
Committing to provide these products – just like you would provide toilet paper – is a critical step in addressing equity.
United Way acknowledges and values the vital leadership of community partners in addressing the pressing issue of period poverty in Niagara. The City of Welland’s commitment to providing free menstrual products not only exemplifies their dedication to promoting health equity but also resonates deeply with the shared goals of initiatives like Period Promise.
The City of Welland’s commitment to providing free menstrual products not only exemplifies their dedication to promoting health equity but also resonates deeply with the shared goals of initiatives like Period Promise.
There’s a valuable lesson we can all learn from the City of Welland. Something as simple as placing a few essential menstrual products visibly on restroom counters, can have a significant impact on the lives of community members eliminating the barriers created by period poverty in our community. By supporting individuals with their basic needs, we enable them to allocate their resources to other essential items such as food or utility bills because no one should ever have to choose between period products and other basic necessities.
Together, we strive to ensure that individuals have equitable access to essential menstrual products, empowering them to lead healthier and more dignified lives.
