A population of 2500 people live in the village of Bystrany in eastern Slovakia, two-thirds of which are Roma whose ancestors settled there back in the 14th century. The majority of the Roma from the osada, or settlement, which is the name used for the place where they live, are on social support. However, in 2004 the Slovak government dramatically reduced the level of social support payments, and increasing poverty has only exacerbated the community's social exclusion.