Not your average dinner table conversation topics, menstrual cycles and the number of homeless people in America aren't always noticed. In fact, they are both so ignored that the two sparking any correlation seems almost impossible. But, if you consider the 25% of homeless Americans that are women, (60% under the age of 18) and keep in mind that a majority of them experience their period once a month, the concomitance quickly becomes clear. Whether or not you’ve ever experienced a menstrual period yourself, they symptoms are universally known- cramps, bleeding, possibly an irritable older sister. Veritably, our consciousness makes us quick to forget just how comparable these symptoms can be to problems. #TheHomelessPeriod shines lights on this concept, and the settling reality for some during that time of the month.

A group of interns from the UK created this video after interviewing a women who lived on the streets for 6 months. The video features a link to a petition regarding sanitary ware allowance being added homeless shelters. Although this story is not based right around the corner, the video alone inspired me to further look into this concept locally.

Needless to say, this video shocked me into consciousness. Spending at least $10.00 a month on sanitary ware always kind of bugged me- but mostly because I was just on my period. I never even stopped to consider what it would be like if these so called luxury items weren’t so easily accessible to me. And yes- I did say luxury items: 45 states tax tampons and most state governments do not recognize them as a necessity. Although most homeless shelters do supply these "luxury items", their stockpile is limited to donations. Now, with an average women using almost 11,000 tampons in her lifetime, we know that donations do not suffice. You'd think this problem would have been addressed already considering that women have been around for- oh, I dunno- ever. You can find bowls of condoms laying around most health clinics and shelters, but bowls of pads and tampons? No way.

So, what do we do about it? Use some of the rage and anger that comes with your uterus being ripped out every month and gather up your friends- girl power is strengthened in numbers. My theory: Get enough women on their periods to hear about this, and sooner or later, women everywhere will relish in the gift we have been given. No one should feel embarrassed for something they cannot control, and especially when a solution is so simple.