Members of IMPACT’s Boards and Voluntary Agencies branch are now actively campaigning to win commitments from Dublin election candidates that they will protect homelessness budgets if they are elected.
You can help with the campaign, which is now online - enabling IMPACT members living in Dublin to ask candidates in their electoral area to pledge their support. Click here to take part.
Special campaign leaflets have been distributed to members of the branch, for distribution to candidates who canvas their homes. Hard copies of the leaflet are available from IMPACT’s communications office.
The campaign follows January’s Dublin City Council budget vote, which reversed €6 million in proposed cuts and increased funding for homeless and disability services in the city’s 2014 budget. IMPACT had called on Dublin City Council to reconsider the proposed cuts ahead of the vote.
In his blog for the IMPACT website, branch chair Derek Beattie said homeless services will need continued support. “Hopefully, services will begin to come under less pressure as more homes become available to people. We decided we’d get out and talk to the people running for election to Dublin’s local authorities in May. We’re going to ask them to protect the homeless services budget for the next five years of local government,” he said.
Derek added: “We don’t think it’s a big ask. People who put themselves forward for elected office do so out of a desire to do some good. We’re appealing to that desire and asking them to pledge their support for this one simple measure. IMPACT will play its part too, by campaigning at national level to have the homeless services budget restored to 2012 levels.”
IMPACT official Ashley Connolly said that the active participation of union members is crucial to the success of the campaign. “Cuts have been the norm in Dublin’s homeless services since 2008. Redundancies, reduced hours and reduced budgets have put enormous pressure on services throughout that time. This year, the councillors’ decision brought some good news, but we need to keep fighting for homeless budgets to be maintained. Simply ask your local election candidates to make this pledge.”
Watch and share our campaign video HERE, follow the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #lepledge14.
