While present day expectations are for everyone to receive the services they require, some small communities are finding that although such services are theoretically available, they are not always available in practice. In addition, residents encounter difficulties when trying to find the proper office among numerous bureaux for receiving assistance, so that they are reluctant to seek services which are available. The remoteness of central bureaucracy may prevent agencies from being aware of the needs of local communities. Bureaucratic channels for obtaining the information, funding and social services which are intended to be of service to the community are often inaccessible to the inexperienced; and attempts at local improvements and programmes may be complicated by apparently inflexible regulations, such as building codes, environmental rulings and programme qualifications criteria. In addition, people are suspicious of and reluctant to deal with government, thus hindering further their ability to tap available government funds. As a result, some designated funds remain unused. Access to financial and commercial services may be difficult if the community is regarded as a bad investment risk. All of these factors lead to a dependence on outside services and a lack of initiative in claiming the benefits to which a community is entitled.
Corporate community action is necessary to assure the supply of critical basic services, or residents will continue to be prevented from participating in economic and social development.