A Basic Need: Addressing Equity in Hygiene Insecurity in Disaster Relief Efforts

Wildfire relief

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Hygiene insecurity has been a severe issue that has persisted long before the LA wildfires. Hygiene insecurity is just as severe of an issue as food insecurity; as it is considered a basic need for people. When it comes to disaster relief efforts most hygiene essentials provided are not adequate and equitable. For instance, menstrual products are often overlooked, items may not be culturally appropriate or overlook persons with disabilities, and most items aren't provided with consistent, long-term access in mind. Hygiene relief is typically provided in disaster relief efforts but it's typically underfunded and inadequately distributed. We seek to address these issues to provide more quality and diversity of hygiene essentials to adequately provide for the populations we serve.

This grant will support a hygiene relief program designed to fill critical gaps in disaster response by providing equitable, consistent, and comprehensive hygiene support to individuals and families affected by wildfires and other emergencies in Los Angeles. While hygiene insecurity has long been a serious issue, recent disasters have further exposed the inadequacies in traditional relief models—particularly the lack of menstrual products, hygiene essentials for babies and children, culturally appropriate items, and provisions for people with disabilities. Through this project, we will distribute diverse and better quality hygiene essentials, tailored to the unique needs of displaced and vulnerable populations, while also advocating for long-term solutions that recognize hygiene as a fundamental human right alongside food and shelter.

Los Angeles County can be deemed as a prime example to follow in the United States as it related to providing equitable hygiene relief in disaster relief efforts with our hygiene relief program which is often overlooked. With our program and approach the county can conduct an official pilot program aimed at sufficiently addressing the disparities and inequalities of hygiene relief and access. We aim to take a more holistic approach for hygiene relief in disaster efforts by going beyond basic kit distribution to embed equity, cultural awareness, and sustainability into each step of planning and delivery. Our structured approach would consist of a community-centered design (engaging directly with the communities most impacted to co-create best solutions), having inclusive hygiene kits (to address menstrual equity, family specific kits, culturally relevant, and for those with disabilities), providing long-term access, and increasing public awareness and advocacy for policy change.