The language of building inclusive communities may be new, or appear to be new, in the current political, economic and social agenda. The barriers which prevent 'inclusion' however are not new. While steps have been taken to address some of the barriers, it is evident from the Action Team's investigation that social exclusion is alive and kicking in many Scottish communities. While policies and initiatives designed to combat exclusion are making some inroads, there needs to be a radical shift in the prioritisation and distribution of resources and the empowerment of those who experience the most severe effects of exclusion. A fundamental barrier that underlies many others is a lack of income.
Poverty is the biggest barrier for social inclusion.
Quote from Black Ethnic Minority Women's Network meeting - July 1999. People with inadequate income are doubly penalised. Not only do they have less money coming into the house, but they also have proportionally higher costs going out. People in disadvantaged communities spend proportionally more money on goods and services than those in more affluent areas. For example, a damp, draughty house is much more expensive to heat than a dry, well-insulated one.