according to staff, the city has more than 100 recreation facilities where menstrual product dispensers could be installed. dispensers cost $295.
in deciding which community centres should participate in the pilot project, city staff used the ottawa neighbourhood equity index, which shows there’s a “strong equity concern” in those four neighbourhoods.
the city is using baskets instead of dispensing machines to quickly get the pilot up and running, rather than going through a procurement process for dispensing machines.
sudds said tuesday she’s happy to see the city launch a pilot project.
“the issue of lack of access to menstrual products has largely gone unaddressed by all levels of government so it makes me very proud to see our city take a step in the right direction,” sudds said.
“menstrual products are expensive, yet essential. often low income is a barrier to accessing these products. this barrier has much farther reaching consequences than people might realize, impacting ones dignity and overall health.”
period packs, an organization that aims to give people equal access to menstrual products, has been donating products to 450 ottawa residents each month.
since the start of the pandemic last march, period packs has been working with the city’s community and social services department and human needs task force to distribute more than
30,700 menstrual products to community organizations.