Research into homelessness and periods

Periods (backup story??)

We had a story about how homeless women deal with periods and what help there is for them as one of our back up stories, I did some research into politicians who are in support of legislations supporting better supplies of sanitary products, charities who provide them and news articles about the issue.                                                                                    
Paula Sherriff

(1) Paula Sherriff has been campaigning for the VAT on women's sanitary products. 
Paula Sherriff "This is a great victory for all the women who have campaigned on this issue for so long, and I hope the end of the tampon tax is now it sight"
She put forward an amendment to the finance bill in October 2015, she's been pressing this amendment in parliment, coming to an agreement from the chancellor to bring down the VAT rate on sanitary products.

Wewe 

We never received a reply from Paula Sherriff.

Pink Parcel

(2)  Pink Parcel support worthwhile causes supporting women, this includes their support for Laura Coryton's campaign to  end 'tampon tax', they are now giving their support to homeless period campaign.

We never received a reply from The Pink Parcel.

Stop taxing periods. Period. 

(3) "The Treasury vowed to axe the outdated and overtly sexist tax on tampons, sanitary pads and mooncups in January 2016. By March we made history when Parliament accepted a tampon-tax-ending amendment proposed by the amazing Paula Sherriff MP."

"After the UK joined the Common Market in 1973, a 17.5% sanitary tax was introduced. It was justified when Parliament classified sanitary products as “non-essential, luxury” items"

The homeless period

(4) "For homeless women, it really is that dreaded time of the month. With limited or no access to sanitary products, they're often forced to go without. This initiative believes that tampons and towels should be made available through homeless shelters, the same way the government provides condoms. To show your support, share the site, sign the petition, or donate a tampon."

No More Taboo

(5) "Many women were concerned that they would not be able to afford sanitary products to last them through their menstrual week, whereas some others could not afford them at all. This is the case with Mary-Ann: “I haven’t used pads, ‘cause I haven’t had no money. I’ve had to use toilet paper”. Mary-Ann documents her socially irregular use of toilet paper, gleaned from public toilets, to ensure that her menstrual blood is absorbed and managed. In her situation, she cannot afford to purchase sanitary products." **LINK TO THE DOCUMENT**

Bustle

(6) "There are 50,000 women living on the streets nationwide, and with limited access to pads and tampons, and no steady, comfortable place to shower, they are forced to get creative with ways to keep clean when they have their periods. Some are forced to steal products. Others wait for homeless outreach crews to come by with pads. Some use socks, paper towels, plastic bags, toilet paper, towels, cotton balls, or clothing in place of hygiene products." **LINK TO THE DOCUMENT**

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(1) Paula Sherriff MP hails tampon tax 04/16 victory http://www.paulasherriff.org.uk/paula_sherriff_mp_hails_tampon_tax_victory

(2) Pink Parcel Help homeless women on their periods https://www.pinkparcel.co.uk/help-homeless-women-on-their-periods/

(3) Change.org Stop taxing periods. Period. #EndTamponTax https://www.change.org/p/george-osborne-stop-taxing-periods-period

(4) The Homeless Period http://thehomelessperiod.com/

(5) No More Taboo http://menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Homeless-Menstruation-Report.pdf

(6) Bustle "This Is How Homeless Women Cope With Their Periods" https://www.bustle.com/articles/190092-this-is-how-homeless-women-cope-with-their-periods