What we are we doing to manage Coronavirus?

The health and safety of our tenants, staff, suppliers and communities is our top priority. With the national response to the outbreak changing daily, we’re working hard to make sure we’re well prepared to deal with the latest developments.

The plans are held by the Senior Team, which is meeting daily. We’re constantly reviewing how we’ll deliver services. As at 25th March 2020, we are maintaining emergency, business-critical, supported housing and health and safety related functions. We are also doing as much additional work as we can to help in any way that we can.

We continue to:

• Be open for business, and can be contacted in all the usual ways. All staff, with the exception of essential support workers are working from home.

• Support our vulnerable tenants in supported housing.

• Deliver our telephone service, the team is fully staffed with robust back up plans in place.

• Carry out emergency repairs and let any empty homes.

• Deliver our highly valued Welfare Benefits support service. They are supporting customers struggling to pay their rent as a result of the outbreak and assisting them to access the support available from Government. They are broadcasting live over Facebook on a weekly basis and hosting a Q&A.

• Keep in close contact with our contractors to constantly review service delivery.

• Fast track payment to our suppliers and contractors.

• Support our foodbanks – staff donations of £240 and food donations have been delivered to six local food banks. North Star also contributed £600 to help the foodbanks out.

• Be closely connected with our communities. We have contacted all of the local authorities that we work with and offered support.

• Encourage and support staff to participate in national volunteering schemes. Uptake will be high.

• Utilise our community spaces. Some are now distribution centres to deliver food and community support.

• Provide emergency financial support to people and groups through our hardship fund.

• Contact our tenants. We have been in touch with almost 500 people aged 70+ to offer support.

• Developed plans to share information and support to customers through text, social media and phone.