The Dahlia Project Australia
Donation protected
Every five years, a census is conducted in Australia, the last being 2011. At that time, there were 105,237 people experiencing homelessness in Australia, with 45,813 or 44 % of these being women (source ).
In Victoria alone, there were 22,000 people recorded as being homeless on census night, with just under half of these being women, and each year in Australia, it's estimated that 1 in 42 women aged 15-24 will access a homelessness service (source ).
Many are aware of the issues that homeless women face - sexual violence, assualt, drug abuse and sexual trafficking to name a few. But there is another big issue that all homeless women encounter that no one talks about and that's the challenge of having your period while homeless.
Shelters can offer showers when available and some can offer pads and tampons but these services are already stretched to the limit and many women do not feel comfortable entering a shelter and asking for these items. This leaves women resorting to stealing these items or using rolled up toilet paper as pads or tampons (very unsanitary), and trying to make do with public toilets and showers where there is little privacy.
Due to the cost of these items and the fact that this issue is seldom spoken about or publicised, these items are rarely donated to those in need. That's why I created The Dahlia Project to distribute Dignity and Hygiene to homeless women and girls Living in Australia.
As little as $10 will buy either a packet of pads or tampons plus a packet of flushable wipes to allow women to keep themselves clean and hygienic in the privacy of a bathroom stall. Alternatively, a $10 donation will provide several pairs of new underwear to women in need.
If you're unable to donate cash, please contact me for postal details to send donations of pads, tampons, wipes or new underwear.
I am based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria and plan to start distributing the items myself in both regional and metropolitan Victoria. Just as a food van is in certain places on certain days, I would like to make it known to those living on the streets where I will be on specific days so they are able to receive these products from me.
I am currently speaking with various homeless services as well as feminine hygiene product companies to try to gain their support for this campaign to allow these products to be more widely and easily accessible to homeless women throughout Australia.
My hope is to exceed my target and gain enough awareness and publicity to enable me to deliver pads, tampons, wipes and new underwear to the homeless women of Melbourne, Victoria for at least the next 12 months and hopefully Victorian women and women all around Australia for even longer.
Everybody deserves dignity.
Want to know more? Leave me a comment, send me a message on GoFundMe or find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDahliaProjectAustralia
In Victoria alone, there were 22,000 people recorded as being homeless on census night, with just under half of these being women, and each year in Australia, it's estimated that 1 in 42 women aged 15-24 will access a homelessness service (source ).
Many are aware of the issues that homeless women face - sexual violence, assualt, drug abuse and sexual trafficking to name a few. But there is another big issue that all homeless women encounter that no one talks about and that's the challenge of having your period while homeless.
Shelters can offer showers when available and some can offer pads and tampons but these services are already stretched to the limit and many women do not feel comfortable entering a shelter and asking for these items. This leaves women resorting to stealing these items or using rolled up toilet paper as pads or tampons (very unsanitary), and trying to make do with public toilets and showers where there is little privacy.
Due to the cost of these items and the fact that this issue is seldom spoken about or publicised, these items are rarely donated to those in need. That's why I created The Dahlia Project to distribute Dignity and Hygiene to homeless women and girls Living in Australia.
As little as $10 will buy either a packet of pads or tampons plus a packet of flushable wipes to allow women to keep themselves clean and hygienic in the privacy of a bathroom stall. Alternatively, a $10 donation will provide several pairs of new underwear to women in need.
If you're unable to donate cash, please contact me for postal details to send donations of pads, tampons, wipes or new underwear.
I am based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria and plan to start distributing the items myself in both regional and metropolitan Victoria. Just as a food van is in certain places on certain days, I would like to make it known to those living on the streets where I will be on specific days so they are able to receive these products from me.
I am currently speaking with various homeless services as well as feminine hygiene product companies to try to gain their support for this campaign to allow these products to be more widely and easily accessible to homeless women throughout Australia.
My hope is to exceed my target and gain enough awareness and publicity to enable me to deliver pads, tampons, wipes and new underwear to the homeless women of Melbourne, Victoria for at least the next 12 months and hopefully Victorian women and women all around Australia for even longer.
Everybody deserves dignity.
Want to know more? Leave me a comment, send me a message on GoFundMe or find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDahliaProjectAustralia
Organizer
Gemma Greenwood
Organizer
Morrinsville, NZ
