New Somerville Public Health Vending Machines Attract Steady Use

Free condoms at 2 a.m.? Narcan on a Sunday? Winter gloves when the temperature drops and everything's closed? In Somerville, there's now a vending machine for that—and in the first eight weeks, residents obtained nearly 1,000 items from two 24/7 public health kiosks, with many items dispensed after regular business hours when most resources are locked up for the night.  

In November, the Somerville Health and Human Services Department installed Somerville’s first-ever Public Health Vending Machines, free public health resource kiosks that provide 24/7 access to health, hygiene, and harm-reduction supplies with minimal barriers. 

Located outside the West Branch Library in Davis Square and Project Soup in East Somerville, the kiosks are designed to meet people where they are—whether that’s before work, after hours, or in the middle of winter weather—without cost getting in the way.  

In the first eight weeks, the kiosks dispensed 940 items, with use split about evenly between the two locations. Notably, 39% of items were dispensed outside normal business hours, underscoring the value of round-the-clock access. 

“In Somerville, we want it to be easier, not harder, to take care of yourself and your family,” said Mayor Jake Wilson. “These kiosks are already doing what we hoped: giving people quick, free access to everyday essentials and life-saving supplies, including at night and on weekends when many resources are closed. It’s a simple idea with real impact.” 

Early high-demand items include bathing wipes, emergency blankets, safer sex kits, winter hats, gloves and socks, wound care kits, baby wipes, hygiene kits, Narcan, and pregnancy tests. Also currently stocked are reproductive health products, menstrual products (tampons, pads, and menstrual cups), diapers, sharps containers, and additional overdose prevention tools including fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips.  

“These vending machines are meeting some critical needs that are often overlooked or not talked about. For one, period poverty is a real issue: roughly one out of five people who menstruate struggles to afford period products. I’m proud that by dispensing menstrual and reproductive products that Somerville is acknowledging the needs of women’s bodies and all who menstruate,” said At-Large Councilor Kristen Strezo, who championed the kiosks and the inclusion of period, reproductive, and diaper products.

Click here to see photos of the kiosks.

The City expects the mix of supplies to continue shifting based on seasonal needs and community feedback. After an item is dispensed, the kiosks provide users the option to anonymously answer demographic questions. Responses are entirely voluntary and will help the City better understand who is being served and how to tailor supplies to community needs over time. 

“The kiosks reinforce the City’s commitment to preventing injury, illness, and premature death by expanding access to high-quality public health supplies,” said Health and Human Services Director Karin Carrol.  

Kiosk Locations 

• West Branch Library (Davis Square), 40 College Avenue, Somerville 

• Project Soup (East Somerville), 165 Broadway, Somerville 

About the Public Health Vending Machines  

This initiative is funded in part by Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation. For questions about the kiosks, please email tlos@somervillema.gov, contact 311, or visit somervillema.gov/healthkiosk.  

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.