Women living on the street

There are women's refuges that collect handbags, you fill an unwanted handbag with things any woman would need if they had left home quickly; toothbrush, paste, shampoo sanitary items etc etc.

Thanks GarlicCake my steroids are kicking in and suppressing my Polymyalgia, an illness I had never heard about till I got it a few weeks ago. How about you ?

They say we never value our health until we lose it, how true.

Glad you're picking up, Kate Me, too - might summer be actually on the way?!

Sounds like a good idea, glam.

The Charity I work for supplies what we call a "vinny pack" which contains a foil thermal blanket/toothpaste & brush/mini soap & wipes instant soup & tea I have always thought sanitary products should be available and am going to raise the subject with our local kind volunteers who distribute the packs to people sleeping on the Streets.

Thanks for this info Newquay. I have been unwell and this thread I started went off my radar. Now I am getting out and about again I must follow up as IMO it is really important one.

We have a food bank at our church which is well used and they accept donations of sanitary products too. They do sometimes get asked for them. They are such an expense.
Went to a lunch recently supporting a charity green fields Africa which, amongst other things, supplies a sanitary pack which cost £5 and gives girls a washable reusable pack which lasts for two years and is made locally providing employment too. It means the girls no longer have to take a week a month off school.
It is awful what vulnerable folks go through. Thanks to all the cuts that are happening all this will, sadly, only get worse.

It's dreadful, isn't it. As soon as you lose your home - becoming instantly vulnerable - you're also cut off from everyday rights & entitlements.

Churches, community centres and some supermarkets collect food bank donations. Once a month I shop for tampons, pads, wet wipes, toothbrush & paste, hand cream and tissues to put in. I add nappies, too, but they wouldn't be for homeless folks!

I'm not sure how easily or often a homeless woman can access a food bank, though. I know most of them have restrictions. It would be nice to hear of any distribution network that was serving women's needs in particular.

If you are homeless, you are still entitled to register with a doctor, however you can only do so by using an address - and if you're homeless you obviously don't have one. You can temporarily use the address of a local friend or (if they will allow) a day centre/charity (our homeless charity not only allows, but encourages this).

At the moment my little organisation is working well with a local G.P. in relation to one particular client, but we've just asked for an appointment with the practice manager to discuss the healthcare needs of local homeless/vulnerably housed people more generally.

I have to say that in my town there is a great deal of co-operation between the food bank, the homelessness charity, a local cafe and the churches - all willing to pitch in together to make a difference and (so far) no-one being precious about their role. It's really encouraging as it means that our clients get a really good, holistic service.

That is so wrong jings. How can this country so completely turn its back on people who have fallen on hard times? It's positively Dickensian. I'm appalled

Many use A&E departments for minor problems. Also it is warm and dry there.

I heard on the radio this morning that homeless people aren't even entitled to any medical treatment. Apparently the Welsh have changed the law about this, but England hasn't. Unbelievable in this day and age.

jingl our homelessness charity was instrumental in getting an older woman, who had been living on the streets since the break-up of her marriage, re-housed. When she was in process of getting a divorce she left the marital home and was told by her local council that they had no obligation to house her as she had intentionally made herself homeless. Because she was then only in her 50's and had no particular health problems she was left to fend for herself on the streets for many years.

It's easier than most of us think to end up on the streets if there are no/little savings and few family/friends.

No woman should have to live on the streets. It's a huge blot on the face of our cities. I've seen women in London who looked the same age as me, huddled in doorways. So wrong.

Where do the men obtain their razors and condoms ? I can't believe the people giving these out don't cater for women too.
I have actually wondered about this in the past but confess I've not bothered to look into it.

Hello Sugar the member of our WI who collects the sanitary ware for the homeless women is away sick and so I haven't been able as yet to find out which charity she is supporting. When she does return I will try and get the info.

I feel very sorry for some of the poorer members of our society- it is not only a case of heat or eat- many go without food for days so that their children are fed. I would think that buying sanitary products is far down the line although a necessity as we see it. I am ashamed to say it is not something that crossed my mind- food and heat yes, but not sanitary products no.

I must investigate my local food bank re this subject. I also would be happy to donate.

I'm pleased to hear it GrannyA sadly not in my area. Maybe this is a place to raise awareness of the difficulty some homeless women experience.

NanKate the homeless charity I run with a friend has close links with the local food bank and together we ensure that sanitary and hygiene products are provided to women in need.

Thanks Sugar I shall ask the person organising it when I see her at the next WI meeting and get back to you. I'm away from home at present house and cat sitting for a relative. I won't forget.

Can you give any further information on how to donate? I think this is a very unthought of matter. I would like to contribute. Our local homeless charity has turned very commercial and sales oriented rather people giving useful items to be given to homeless people when they get a house.

Oh that is awful. Women seem to be penalised re sanitary products at all turns, paying VAT and now this. It must be hard enough trying to survive on the streets as it is. They don't have a choice with their periods - men living rough can choose not to shave!