When I was younger I had very heavy periods. On one occasion I was walking home from uni and my period started so suddenly that the blood literally poured down the insides of my legs to my ankles and soaked my socks and shoes. Fortunately I just had a 5 minute walk home before I could peel my wet, cold and sticky jeans off and get into a hot shower.
I also sometimes pass big clots that cause severe cramping, cold sweats and nausea. This can go on for hours. Then there's the anxiety, mood swings and general feeling of doom and gloom. I'm not a rare case at all and I've had my hormones checked and many scans and all is as it should be. It's not like that every month either but I can't predict how it'll be until it happens.
I can slob out on a comfy sofa with blankets, hot water bottles, a big bar of chocolate and some crap 80's film. I have painkillers in the cupboard, hot water for washing and lots of tampons so I can feel fresh and clean.
Imagine being a woman sleeping in a doorway on some cardboard, maybe a big coat and a sleeping bag if you're lucky, with all that ^ going on as well. So not only are you cold, feeling scared and vulnerable but now you're in physical pain and cold and wet from sitting in your own blood.
The very least we, and any shelter charities, can do is provide sanitary protection to make it a tiny bit less uncomfortable.
Being without £ and using a food bank isn't quite as bad a scenario, but to have to choose between getting a carton of milk or decent pads/tampons must be incredibly shit. It's about dignity and helping people maintain their own standards of self care.
I see you have changed your opinion now but just in case there's anyone left who thinks the same as you did when you started the thread.