A Burnaby organization has been given a provincial grant to help fight period poverty.
The Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice (YAIJ) received $20,000 this week for a new research project that investigates where access to menstrual products are needed most.
YAIJ is set to collect data about related challenges specifically facing Black and racialized neurodiverse people who menstruate with or without intellectual disabilities.
"Ending period poverty doesn't have a single solution – it has many," Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA Anne Kang said in a news release.
"By investing in research initiatives like this one, we can better understand how period poverty impacts different communities, and make changes that have long-term results for people."
The province says through its grant announced in May, United Way BC has dispersed roughly $220,000 for 10 pilot projects that are working toward the elimination of period poverty.
Funded projects have to be completed by August this year.
The results are set to help B.C.'s period poverty task force develop recommendations for a "comprehensive and sustainable" response to period poverty across the province by March 2024.
"Periods are a natural part of life for many people, but unfortunately they can come with stigma, especially when you can’t afford the products you need," Burnaby North MLA Janet Routledge added.
"That is why our government is continuing our work to eliminate period poverty with the help of United Way and organizations like Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice."
