{"id":7354,"date":"2017-06-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svp.matrix-test.com\/article\/little-has-changed-for-thousands-that-seek-svp-help\/"},"modified":"2024-05-24T14:31:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T13:31:49","slug":"little-has-changed-for-thousands-that-seek-svp-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.svp.ie\/news\/little-has-changed-for-thousands-that-seek-svp-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Little has changed for thousands that seek SVP help"},"content":{"rendered":"

Little has changed or improved for thousands of households that seek help from St Vincent de Paul<\/h3>\n

SVP pre-budget submission seeks priority for investment in services<\/strong><\/p>\n

The past 12 months have been marked by economic growth and falling unemployment. But it is clear from SVP members that the most vulnerable in our society are not experiencing the benefit from these improvements. The Society is concerned that unless the deficits in our public services are addressed, the inequalities of past and present will deepen.<\/p>\n

At the launch of its Pre-Budget Submission <\/a>today (13th June 2017)\u00a0SVP says that the long-standing problem of low income, coupled with the cost of education, energy and lack of services, have made life more challenging for an increasing number of households both in and out of work.<\/p>\n

Last year 130,000 calls for help were received by SVP.<\/p>\n

Its members also regularly visit individuals and families that are experiencing the stress and challenge of rising rents,\u00a0the threat of homelessness and making do with poor quality and inadequate housing.<\/p>\n

The Society is calling for a continued prioritisation of investment in services over tax cuts in Budget 2018 and future budgets. It says that a history of underinvestment in services has led to an over reliance on the market in the provision of essential services such as social housing. This approach has contributed to inadequate public infrastructure,\u00a0impacting the extent to which people can take up employment, make work pay and stay out of poverty.<\/p>\n

The SVP Pre-Budget submission entitled 'Bridging the gap; Investing for an equitable future<\/a>\u2019 sets out 25 ways in which short-term action and longer-term investment could help rebalance\u00a0inequality in Irish society.<\/p>\n

Its proposal includes critical and practical action that can be taken in Budget 2018 including:<\/p>\n