A resilient response to the social-economic implications of coronavirus. The case of Snodi Solidali in Turin

ABSTRACT

The emergency created by the COVID-19 has shattered the world, with impacts in all countries. The restrictions introduced to reduce and contain the virus’ spread have changed lifestyles, illustrating the inequalities of our societies. Cities had to find rapid solutions to limit the socio-economic consequences, relying on their ability to react and adapt. This paper describes a local project that guaranteed food access to the most vulnerable population during the lockdown phase. Snodi solidali constituted a fast and responsive way for the local authority and the third sector’s network to offer an immediate reaction to an urgent need.

KEYWORDS:

• Inequalities
• COVID-19
• food access
• resilience

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. From March till the end of July 2020, in Italy, around 247.000 people were infected by the virus (source: Italian Ministry of Health).

2. The ‘Case del Quartiere’ are municipal property spaces (former public baths, industrial buildings, etc.) managed by not-for-profit organizations that provide facilities to citizens and associations in order to carry out socio-cultural initiatives, workshops, classes, conferences, and services for all the citizens. There are six Houses, progressively implemented during the early 2000s in order to develop a network to share ideas, good practices and resources.

3. It is a structure of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, ensuring assistance to the population in case of major emergencies.