'If Northampton's homeless people can suddenly be housed during crisis, why not permanently? It shows if politicians want it to happen, it can happen'

Over the last few weeks, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of groups across Northamptonshire have been responding to the current public health crisis by providing essential services to the most vulnerable folk in our communities.

This includes food aid, shopping services, community transport for key workers and for hospital appointments, medicine supplies, telephone calls and befriending support and care packages.

The list goes on.

Some of this frontline response work is also being funded by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and supported by the Local Government COVID-19 Community Resilience Cell.

It’s a testimony to the humanity and social solidarity of communities during this very difficult time.

Whilst many of us adhere to the key health guidance mantra of ‘stay home and save lives’ and we abide by social distancing rules, there are many brave key workers risking their lives so we can maintain some semblance of a normal life.

I have taken to regularly saying ‘thank you’ to the staff in my local Sainsbury’s who continue to stock the food shelves and work the tills.

Before, like many, I simply took their presence for granted.

If this public health crisis is doing one thing, it’s vindicating what most of us knew all along: that the low-paid aren’t low skilled, that the so-called key workers are the ones who keep us well-fed, clean, healthy and safe.

Not all heroes wear capes; from nurses to cleaners, to postal workers and delivery drivers to public transport workers, we, as a society, need to remember this.

Furthermore, in one fell swoop we’ve seen the rough-sleeping crisis almost disappear overnight, with homeless people being housed for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.

It just goes to show that if there is the political will to address an issue or a problem, it can be resolved.

Internationally we have seen some progressive social policy change in order to address the urgent needs of people at risk from Covid-19.

For example, earlier this month the Portuguese government decreed that all asylum seekers and all undocumented migrants were automatically granted residency with access to state provision, including healthcare and benefits.

Spain has become the first country to state that it intends to introduce a universal basic income for all, in order to provide a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or business because of the lockdown rules to stop the virus from spreading.

We’ve also started to see the environmental impact of the coronavirus prevention measures, such as improved air quality, less pollution, a vast reduction in carbon emissions as commuting has grinded to a halt and planes no longer take off; cleaner waterways and wildlife returning to old habitats taken away by humans.

Meanwhile, the deeply tragic death toll of this pandemic is a testimony to the need for re-thinking our global and national commitments to properly investing in science, research and public health infrastructure, and working together internationally.

It was right that we all clapped for the NHS and sent a message of deep thanks; but we can go one step better and provide the pay, resources and equipment at work to keep them safe and properly valued, no matter the health challenge.

I’m reminded of the great Sam Cooke song ‘A Change is Gonna Come’. It simply has to.

Once we, as a global community, get through this public health crisis, we need to reflect not just on our health systems, but also what matters socially, economically and environmentally.

But first of all, when this crisis subsides, please let’s remember the brave people and workers who kept this country running and let’s make sure those people get the wages and protection at work that they truly deserve, and that our society changes to reflect this.