Meet the change-maker creating homes for young Australians in need

Carla Raynes has spent more than two decades working on the frontline of homelessness in Australia and the UK, and has seen the problem only worsen in that time.  

The state of homelessness in Australia is shocking, with one in 10 Australians are at risk of homelessness, and the problem has become increasingly widespread.  

People experiencing homelessness weren’t just sleeping rough on the street, the vast majority were couch surfing, living in cars, or cycling through temporary accommodation with no security. 

“I’ve worked in homelessness for 20 years and I’ve seen it get significantly worse in that time,” she said.  

“It fuels me to double down and work as hard as I can to try and do something to alleviate the continuously escalating situation that we have around homelessness. The big dream is to end homelessness.” 

As the co-founder of housing charity Bridge It, Ms Raynes has seen firsthand how safe housing and support transforms lives.  

“I truly believe in human potential, and I think there’s so much wasted human potential in the current homelessness system,” she said. 

Bridge It co-founder Carla Raynes. Picture: Supplied

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“When we’re not supporting people, it means that they can’t work, they can’t thrive, they can’t have relationships… and they end up in prisons, on our streets and in psych wards. I see what’s possible every day here with our young people.” 

It’s a big reason why Ms Raynes has volunteered as a committee member of the newly formed A Home for All foundation, a national initiative uniting the property industry to help end homelessness.  

The foundation will channel the property sector’s influence and reach to drive awareness, raise funds and support long-term change. 

Backed by leading voices from real estate, home building, community housing and more, the initiative has been designed to accelerate efforts to tackle homelessness across the country. 

“Homelessness services are dramatically underfunded,” she said.  

“But if government worked in collaboration with business, the community and not-for-profits like us, we have a better chance at ending homelessness.” 

The foundation’s first major campaign, A Night Without Home, will take place in October. 

The event invites Australians to spend one night in October without the comfort of their home, whether that’s couch surfing, sleeping in a car or sleeping over in the office, to reflect the hidden realities of homelessness. 

On any given night, more than 122,000 Australians have no safe and secure place to call home. Picture: Supplied

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Participants can sign up as an individual or in a team and are encouraged to fundraise, with funds going towards the foundation.   

The support will accelerate the efforts of reputable charities in addressing homelessness.  

For Ms Raynes, it’s an opportunity to turn awareness into action.  

“This is an opportunity for people with different expertise and experience to come together and have the biggest impact possible,” she said.  

The majority of people experiencing homelessness have been couch surfing, sleeping in cars, or moving from one temporary accommodation to the next. Picture: Supplied

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“Hopefully this campaign will increase funding into the sector, and to organisations like Bridge It that urgently need it.” 

Bridge It’s flagship Cocoon program provides secure housing for young people at risk of homelessness in Melbourne.  

Since opening its first site in St Kilda almost a year ago, 16 residents have moved in, with many now studying, working or building strong support networks. 

It comes as an anonymous Melbourne couple recently spent an extraordinary $3.2 million buying an apartment complex to lease to Bridge It for just $1 a year so the organisation could expand their services.

“We’ve celebrated 18th birthdays, seen young people build friendships and even found families with each other,” Ms Raynes said.  

“For some, it’s the first time they’ve felt like they’ve had a home.  

“One young woman once thought her future was working at Hungry Jack’s, and now she believes she could be the future prime minister of Australia.”