- The name, Boorloo Bidee Mia, means 'Perth pathway to housing'
- The service will be able to accommodate 100 rough sleepers
- The facility aims to help break the cycle of homelessness
Today, Perth’s new homeless service, Boorloo Bidee Mia, will welcome its first residents.
The facility aims to offer more than short term shelter, but rather to support rough sleepers in a transition out of homelessness into long-term accommodation.
The philosophy is embodied in the name Boorloo Bidee Mia, which means “Perth pathway to housing” in the Whadjuk Noongar language.
Community Services Minister, Simone McGurk, explained how the new service is more than just a shelter.
“[Boorloo Bidee] will support residents to address the underlying issues that contributed to them becoming homeless in the first place and transition to more permanent accommodation.”
Simone McGurk, Community Services Minister
“This Aboriginal-led and culturally informed service aims to break the cycle of homelessness in the Perth CBD area, where Aboriginal people are sadly overrepresented among chronic rough sleepers,” she said.
Due to their over-representation among the rough sleeping population of Perth, Aboriginal people are expected to be the predominant residents at the facility. However, non-Aboriginal people will also be eligible to make use of the service.
In a bid to provide a culturally sensitive and appropriate service, the facility was developed with the consultation of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and Noongar Mia Mia.
Wungening Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Daniel Morrison, believes Boorloo Bidee represents a “…strong and ambitious partnership between organisations working hand in hand to achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal people.”
“Healing starts with a safe place to sleep. We know once people have a place to stay, they are much more likely to engage with service supports.”
Daniel Morrison, Wungening Aboriginal Corporation CEO
Located at 300 Wellington Street in the city, the service will be able to house 100 adults, with rooms for both singles and couples.
