A growing number of excluded locations. The emergence of socially excluded localities is associated with the spatial segregation, the municipalities often cannot or are not able to prevent their emergence. Also the municipal housing policy and housing privatization is often insufficient. This could even deepen the issue of excluded localities, rather than addressing it. The excluded locations also report a worse availability of services including health care ( often combined with unwillingness to treat the socially excluded people who often include people who are physically handicapped or otherwise stigmatized) and an inadequate infrastructure. The key problem remains in the lack of jobs, often due to structural problems (the departure or reduction of activities of employers, who were key actors for the local labour market) and in the insufficient job creation. The excluded locations have a growing problem in the unsatisfactory quality of the mainstream primary schools, while many municipalities segregate the socially weak, specifically the Roma children, to the schools for mentally handicapped children or to the so-called ghetto schools (schools with the outflow of children from the majority population and the growing number of children from the socially excluded backgrounds). At the local level, there is still an insufficient coordination in addressing social exclusion and the still low level of awareness of this issue among all relevant stakeholders, including the public. Finally, social dialogue and awareness of social responsibility have little support. Solution of issues of the excluded areas is also significantly associated with the prevention of their further emergence, which is largely caused by the lack of prevention (especially social) policies while it is strengthened by the deteriorating economic and social situation. Development needs: ⮚ An inter-institutional and comprehensive approach to tackling these issues in the communities in question that would include a pro-active approach of public administration and partnership coordination and enhancement in developing integration strategies. This approach will be promoted by creation of local strategic plans for social inclusion, in which the municipalities with excluded locations address in an integrated manner housing, employment, social services, education and health (see chapter 3.1.5 below), and which will be the precondition for support. ⮚ Support for the creation of specific tools for solving the problems of socially excluded lo...
