Lupton, R. (2003). Poverty street: the dynamics of neighbourhood decline and renewal. Bristol, Policy Press.
Poverty Street examines neighbourhood decline and poverty in twelve of the most disadvantaged areas in England and Wales. The research methods combine neighbourhood statistics, photographs and the accounts of local people with analysis of broader social and economic trends. In general, the book uses the concept of neighbourhood rather than community as a central focus of the study, but the closely related idea of community is also used throughout, particularly in relation to community organizations, policy initiatives such as the Community Development Programme and the New Deal for Communities, and in reference to identity groups such as 'white working-class community' and 'Asian community'. Chapter 5 on 'Social interaction and neighbourhood stigma' explores the idea of a 'strong but enclosed community' and '"community" shrinking under pressure'. The book first introduces the social policy context of neighbourhood decline and poverty in the UK and the 12 disadvantaged areas that are the focus of the study. Then the book goes on to explore historical poverty and the roots of decline in the UK, issues of neighbourhood stigma, social exclusion, and problems with public services, and policy development from the 1990s, including attempts at regeneration, New Labour and neighbourhood renewal, partnership models, and drivers of change (population, housing and the economy). Finally, the author evaluates the impact of government neighbourhood renewal policies since 1997 and considers future policy prospects for reducing inequalities, including potential new solutions for avoiding concentrations of poverty, improving housing, mixing tenure and tackling worklessness and achieving economic inclusion.