Boorloo Bidee Mia is celebrating its first year of operation during Homelessness Week 2022, with the culturally appropriate, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) led service helping to deliver life-changing support to some of Perth’s most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness.
The name Boorloo Bidee Mia represents “Perth pathway to housing” in Whadjuk Noongar language. It typifies the approach of the service to provide residents with the support they need to transition out of homelessness and into stable, long-term accommodation.
One year on from its launch, Boorloo Bidee Mia is delivering on that purpose. Under the leadership of Wungening Aboriginal Corporation (Wungening) and working with Noongar Mia Mia, the facility currently provides a home to 66 residents, with 64 of the 66 rooms occupied, with more than 70 per cent of those residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
In its first year, Boorloo Bidee Mia has assisted the transition of six individuals into longer-term public or community housing. This includes individuals who prior to engagement with Boorloo Bidee Mia had experienced decades of vulnerability to rough sleeping.
In keeping with the complexity of the needs of chronic rough sleepers, Boorloo Bidee Mia operates as a low-barrier service model. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff and residents, the intake of new residents is carefully and methodically managed through an integrated action group.
This approach is helping stabilise new residents without jeopardising the progress of existing residents. Boorloo Bidee Mia is operating a sustainable service model with 96 per cent of available rooms occupied.
44 residents have now been living at Boorloo Bidee Mia for six or more months, with the service having supported a combined 13,495 nights of accommodation to residents in its first year.
Boorloo Bidee Mia is a key initiative of the State Government’s All Paths Lead to a Home: Western Australia’s 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness.
As stated by Homelessness Minister John Carey:
“In the past year, the McGowan Government has established homelessness as a standalone Ministerial portfolio, while the Department of Communities has created a dedicated Office of Homelessness to lead stewardship, coordination, strategic planning, and practices connected to homelessness services in WA.
“This Government has set out a clear focus to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness.
“To achieve this, we have a plan and reforms. We’re enhancing support networks, delivering more social housing stock and boosting the availability of emergency accommodation for people with immediate need.
“Boorloo Bidee Mia delivers more than a safe place to stay. It builds a sense of purpose and belonging and encourages a path of healing for people who have often experienced years of hurt and trauma.
“I would like to extend my thanks to Daniel Morrison and everyone at Wungening and Noongar Mia Mia for their incredible work.
“Boorloo Bidee Mia is the first facility of its kind in Perth and one year on since its launch, it is clear Boorloo Bidee Mia is delivering life-changing assistance for our most vulnerable community members.
“Our Government is using every lever it can to deliver more social housing, and we continue making significant investments in homelessness programs.”
As stated by Wungening Aboriginal Corporation CEO Daniel Morrison:
“Wungening Aboriginal Corporation is proud to be leading a homelessness service like Boorloo Bidee Mia, which is the first of its kind to be led by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.
“The results after one year of Boorloo Bidee Mia supporting residents demonstrate clearly that services and solutions led by Aboriginal people work best for Aboriginal people.
“We have created a community for residents that people want to be a part of because it is safe, supported, and empowering. Everyone involved can be proud of this achievement.
“The strength of this service is seen in the collaborative network of people and organisations supporting residents – from partner agencies like Noongar Mia Mia and the Department of Communities, to visiting services, staff, and the residents themselves.
“I’d like to thank everyone, but particularly the State Government, who have contributed to supporting the group of residents who now call this building home.”
