IMPACT’s Boards and Voluntary Agencies branch is seeking commitments to Dublin’s homelessness services from local election candidates in all four of the city’s local authorities.

The campaign – #lepledge14 – follows last month’s budget vote, in which Dublin City Council reversed proposed cuts of €6 million in the homelessness budget. Instead it found extra funds for homeless and disability services in the city. IMPACT was among the organisations that had called for a rethink on the proposed cuts ahead of the vote.

IMPACT official Ashley Connolly said councillors had done the right thing. “This is the first bit of good news for Dublin’s homeless services in several years, as cuts have been the norm since 2008. Redundancies, reduced hours and budget cuts have put enormous pressure on services. Now we need to keep fighting for homeless budgets to be maintained,” she said.

Ashley said the May local elections provided an opportunity for IMPACT members to seek a commitment from candidates in all four Dublin councils to protect homeless services budgets beyond 2014.

“IMPACT members need all candidates seeking election in May to understand how important it is to protect these services. The number of homeless people on Dublin’s streets continues to rise. We’re seeking a pledge from every candidate to protect the homeless services budget throughout the next local government term,” she said.

Read more on the campaign in Derek Beattie’s blog on the IMPACT website. And watch our #lepledge campaign video HERE.