The Atlanta City Council is weighing an ordinance that could make free feminine hygiene products a reality in city buildings, according to a FOX 5 Atlanta report. Nonprofit leaders have expressed strong support for the measure, signaling the high demand for such products among underserved populations.
Among those leaders, Jamie Lackey, CEO and founder of Helping Mamas, a nonprofit which distributes essential products to women in need, underscored the critical nature of the situation. "Last year we distributed 810,000 products to about 32,000 individuals," Lackey told FOX 5 Atlanta. However, she noted that while this number might seem substantial, it does little to address the full scope of need in the metro Atlanta area, expressing the feeling that their efforts are merely, "putting a Band-Aid on it." Lackey also outlined the dire choices those in period poverty face, often deciding between essential hygiene items or food and bills – a choice that can force women to miss work, precipitating a detrimental cycle of lost income.
Advocating for the legislation, City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari stressed that access to feminine hygiene products is a step toward eradicating hygiene poverty. "Anything that can get us towards making hygiene products more accessible means that we are helping more people not miss out on their day-to-day lives," Bakhtiari said in a statement reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Bakhtiari, who gave an introduction to the legislation, expresses confidence that the bill, backed by 13 sponsors, will pass. The ordinance aims for implementation before the summer, but discussions have been stalled in committee.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups such as Georgia Stomp are fighting to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products. The group's stance, as detailed in an Atlanta News First piece, highlights the inconsistency in the state's taxation policies. "Those are deemed essential by the state, yet these items we can’t live or go to work and school without have not been given that same treatment," said Georgia Stomp's Adele Stewart. Stewart also emphasized the health risks that women face when improvising due to lack of products, including toxic shock syndrome and other illnesses, issues that Bakhtiari argues are not discussed enough.
According to details from Atlanta News First and FOX 5 Atlanta reports, the proposed ordinance would include the installation of pads and tampons in women’s and gender-neutral restrooms across city facilities. The provision of such products would also extend to cover emergency situations where individuals find themselves without access to these essential items. Bakhtiari has not yet confirmed whether the ordinance would cover Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport but insists the main goal is to change the culture around feminine hygiene products and ensure access for health reasons.
