This is a crisis. Its residents are demoralized and trying to figure out how to push through the obstacles they face each day. Ninga Mia was developed in the 1980s as a government-approved alternative to Aboriginal town-based settlements. It sits about a kilometer from the relatively sleepy center of the booming city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, literally in the shadow of the Super Pit, one of Australia’s largest open-cut gold mines. Where this place once represented their economic future, it now stands as a beacon of hopelessness and blight.
Residents like Geoffrey Stokes, a former Indigenous special police officer turned mental health worker, express deep concern about the community’s current state. Stokes recalls that Ninga Mia now feels “hollow” in contrast to the bustle and traffic it once hosted. With a national housing shortage making local crises even worse, the challenge has become even more urgent.
As a result, the waitlist for public housing has grown to crisis levels, with some people reportedly waiting up to 20 years for help. As Tracey McCartney of the Church of Christ Kalgoorlie says, we’re seeing unprecedented pressure on housing. From March 2020, housing applications have increased by 45 percent. Mayor Glenn Wilson says the situation in Ninga Mia is the worst he’s witnessed. He urges us to act with more urgency, especially in this moment.
A Community in Decline
Ninga Mia’s battered appearance runs deep with many homes flayed by the weather. Debris-strewn fields, wrecked homes, and a complete silence mark what was once a vibrant neighborhood. Last year, a government-commissioned inquiry in Perth revealed an uncomfortable reality. It only demonstrated that decades went by without completion of any large-scale renovations, creating a deteriorating quality of life.
Repairs and maintenance needs are a major focus. As tenants regularly testify, non-domestic service requests are often ignored for months or years. Geoffrey Stokes points out, “The people pay bills … they [ACHL] take the money, but they don’t send anybody to do the work.” This sentiment strikes a chord with many constituency and community members who see their concerns ignored in everyday service delivery.
Bill Ring, a Noongar-Gija Elder who has dedicated decades to improving conditions for First Nations people, highlights systemic failures. He questions the effectiveness of funding allocated to various programs aimed at closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. “People say they get funding for this and that program … but what do you have to show for it?” he asks. As we’ve documented, the frustration builds among residents when they can’t see, touch or feel the impact from efforts started with much fanfare to help them.
The Impact of Homelessness
Kalgoorlie’s homelessness rate has skyrocketed, with the most recent Census capturing numbers almost two times the national average. This disturbing statistic certainly highlights a more life and death consequence of the lack of affordable housing. Most people who experience homelessness don’t engage in antisocial behavior but are instead targets of circumstance.
Tracey McCartney reminds us not to forget to listen to the multifaceted narrative of people who find themselves homeless. “We need to look at people and see that there’s a big story behind what they’re going through,” she notes. The challenges faced by individuals are unique and require empathy and action from the community at large.
Additionally, localities have heeded the call, or at least the need, and acted quickly to address homelessness. A spokesperson for Communities reported that since July 2021, the state government has delivered a record $5.1 billion in homeless and housing measures. Despite this commitment being a fantastic win, residents are doubtful that the money will actually work to improve life in Ninga Mia.
Cultural Misunderstandings and Community Dynamics
Cultural misunderstandings are an all too common layer that makes engaging with the built ALL around residents difficult. Bill Ring points out that local government and other organizations that receive funding for closing the gap must collaborate more effectively. “That’s local government, the police, other organisations that get Aboriginal funding for Closing the Gap,” he states.
The idea that Indigenous peoples being in larger groups in public spaces may intimidate settler populations has become highly prevalent. Many of those domestic bridge burnings turn out to be expressions of cultural vibrancy more than expressions of terror. As Mr. Brien explains, “It’s not done to intimidate or anything else; it’s simply a group of people sitting around … they meet, they talk, and that is part of the culture that people don’t always see or understand.”
Building readiness, awareness, and intentionality around these topics is important for establishing a sense of community togetherness and understanding. The story of homelessness and cultural celebrations needs to go from a place of fear and othering to understanding the beauty of difference and our common human experience.
