Support Programs
Free Menstrual Products Pilot
Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products due to financial constraints which is a health equity issue affecting girls, women, and persons who menstruate.
To address this issue, the City of Hamilton is undertaking a year-long pilot aimed at exploring sustainable and reliable ways to bridge gaps in access and address period poverty.
The City’s Menstrual Products Pilot offers access to free tampons and pads in women’s and universal washrooms at select recreation centres across the City, in addition to granting funding to Hamilton Food Share for the purchase and distribution of menstrual products through its network.
Hamilton’s Menstrual Products Pilot was developed with the principles of supporting individuals who menstruate and are experiencing financial need, upholding personal dignity, and providing choice.
An evaluation of the pilot including impact of the program, distribution methods, products distributed, and projected program costs will be included in a report back to the Emergency and Community Services Committee in April 2023
Where to access menstrual products
Hamilton Food Share
Residents can access free menstrual products at Hamilton Food Share’s 23 Emergency Food Centres which includes food banks and hot meal programs. For a list of these locations visit
Universal access in select Recreation Centres
Free menstrual products are available in baskets or bins in 18 women’s and universal washrooms at five City of Hamilton recreation centres including:
- Dalewood Recreation Centre
- Dominic Agostino Riverdale Community Centre
- Huntington Park Recreation Centre
- Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre
- Westmount Recreation Centre
Date modified
January 06, 2023