KATE GOWMAN

Lunik IX houses the largest community of Romani people in Slovakia. Although originally built for 2,500 inhabitants, it is estimated that the population is now three times larger. Living standards are low, with services such as gas, water, and electricity cut off, as the majority of inhabitants are not paying rent or utilities fees. Health standards are low and diseases are common. Unemployment in the borough reaches almost 100 percent. 

The Romani village close to the borough was demolished in 1979 and the Romani people were moved into Luník IX; in addition, there was a landfill nearby. As early as in the 1980s the Romani comprised half of the population, which was around 2,000. Over time, the non-Romani population gradually moved away, with the Romani taking flats after their departure, and the borough turned into a Romani ghetto.

In 1995, the city council of Košice created a plan for the living conditions of dodgers, the maladjusted, and people from illegally occupied flats around Košice. They were to be moved into Luník IX, with “non-problematic” families being gradually moved out of it, if they would request. The realization of this plan is on-going.

I traveled to Kosice in 2015 curious if community of Romani people in Slovakia have integrated or have been further segregated.  These documentations show how the city of Košice along with developers have managed to wall off the "unwanted" Romani people..  

*Numbers on the map correspond to photos.

*Work in progress.

(1) Nearby Slovakian suburb uses various walls and fences to keep the residents from Lunik IX out. 

(2) Developer installs wall with barbed wire, external security window coverings and surveillance systems. These houses are on top of a hill overlooking Lunik IX.

View of Lunik IX from suburban homes.

(3) Middle class slovakian apartments overlook Lunik IX, this wall went up to keep the Lunik IX residents from entering. Many times this wall has been torn down & vandalized. The backside has much graffiti with political messages against segregation.

Closer look of the wall and view of Lunik IX.

Long walk up to the isolated housing, a passer by could easily miss the community of Lunik IX.  

Young scrapper collecting metal to sell, residents cleaning in the river & worn trails to access stores and bus system.

Children playing in the street with home-made games.

The women residents of Lunik IX cleaning the streets. 

Lunik IX has one elementary school and a kindergarten.