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Somerville launches pilot of free menstrual-product dispensers in six city locations
Summary
City’s Health and Human Services department told the council the late‑fall pilot has installed six dual dispensers maintained by vendor Citron; machines hold 28 tampons and 28 pads each, are refilled every 28 days, and preliminary counts show high usage. The department will share a first quarterly utilization report in March or April.
City Councilor at‑large Kristen Strezzo asked the director of Health and Human Services to update the committee on Order 250039, which requests information on the availability and accessibility of free menstrual products in city‑owned restrooms.
The pilot program, Director of Health and Human Services Karen Carroll told the committee, launched in late fall and places six dual dispensers that dispense both tampons and pads at high‑traffic sites aimed at teens and adults. “We targeted teen center activities or teen spaces,” Carroll said, listing locations as the Edgerly (teen programs), Powder House (Parks & Recreation teen activities), Soya at 42 Cross Street, the HHS annex (case…
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