Homelessness Week: How Your Purchase Builds Positive Change

We are so excited to be partnering with Bridge It - a Melbourne-based charity supporting young women and gender-diverse people through affordable housing - for the third year in a row!

In 2023, we donated funds to the not-for-profit organisation that sponsored the courtyard at Cocoon in St Kilda, Bridge It’ first home for 16 young people facing or experiencing homelessness. In 2024, we created the Bridge It Bobbi Boot together, with sales helping to fund a vital new support role for residents within the Cocoon crew.

Today, we kick off our 2025 partnership, with 10% from every Australian online sale during Homelessness Week donated towards Bridge It’s second Cocoon project.

Here, Merry People founder and CEO Dani chats with Bridge It founder and CEO Carla about how Cocoon has already changed so many lives, and the future steps we can all take together to give homelessness the boot!

Dani: “Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to start Bridge It?”

Carla: “After working in the homelessness sector for over 15 years, I was totally disheartened and felt that I wasn't having the impact needed. When I was eight weeks pregnant with my son, and my daughter was 18 months old, Jane Tewson, Founder and Director of Igniting Change and my Founding Team and Board helped me set up a charity to create real momentum in this space.

“We launched Bridge It with $20K in the bank and one of the Board connected me to HousingFirst - a community housing provider who happened to have a vacant mansion available. In 2022, we transformed this into our first Cocoon; one building offering well-located, affordable housing in fully self-contained studio apartments.

“Today, there are 16 young women and gender-diverse people from the ages of 17-21 living at Cocoon in safe accommodation for 12 to 18 months. This vital timeframe - at a critical age when many young people are exited from residential care with few options - allows them to stabilise and work on their life goals such as studying and creating positive relationships whilst stepping into adulthood.”

Dani: "How did our 2024 Bridge It Bobbi Boot contribute to positive change?

Carla: “I am so proud of the Bridge It Bobbi Boot. With a percentage of sales donated towards the Cocoon housing program, we were able to make Cocoon a merrier place and increase the support we provide by funding a brand new role of ‘Cocoon Coordinator’. This has proven vital to our young residents, offering informal and practical support in navigating life from break-ups with partners to finding employment or enrolling in university.

“The Bridge It Crew are at Cocoon five days a week, providing lived-experience mentoring, life and living skills development, plus therapies and wellness activities. The Cocoon Coordinator role is an integral part of our team!”

Why Bridge It matters:

“Homelessness among women is growing significantly in Victoria,” says Carla, “so this is the area I wanted to focus on.”

24% between the 2016 and 2021 census, with the highest incidence being 19-24 year olds.
Young people who are in residential care are exited on their 18th birthday and of these, 54% will experience homelessness within the first four years.
Key drivers of homelessness in Victoria include domestic and family violence, financial difficulties, lack of affordable housing, and mental health issues with domestic violence a leading cause, particularly among women and children.

Dani: “I knew when starting Merry People that I wanted it to have a positive impact on society. Meeting you and learning about Bridge It immediately aligned with me. How has the experience been for you?”

Carla: “For me personally, I have lived in my boots and I am totally in love with them. When I was wearing them at Melbourne Airport recently, a woman holding a toddler came up to me because she recognised the boots and our campaign. She said she grew up in care and was blown away that Merry People were playing a role in creating homes for young women in situations like she had been in. It was emotional for me to see how our collaboration resonated with people.

“Through the growth of Cocoon in general, we have also seen amazing friendships created. One of our residents said to me recently that when she was younger, she had aspirations to work at Hungry Jack's, but now, she wants to be the Prime Minister of Australia and has her first job in politics! Another young person shared that the staff felt like big sisters and that they were so excited at Christmas last year and had got so many presents for them.

“I feel so proud to witness these incredible transformations that happen at the Cocoon. The young people often share that the staff believe in them until they start to believe in themselves. Collaborations and donations such as yours make this possible.”

Photos by Eve Wilson, Design Files

Dani: “That is awesome! What are some other recent highlights for you?”

Carla: “Through a massive collaboration with the construction industry and a range of businesses, including Housing All Australians, Mirvac and Merry People, we completed a $1.7M renovation of the first Cocoon property, with 90% completed pro bono. Since September 2024, 18 residents have moved into the accommodation, with many starting Uni, gaining employment and building stable relationships. We are so excited to now have the keys to a new building which will become Cocoon #2! The property was bought by a generous couple who have given us access to it for 20 years for $1 per year, which is amazing! However, it’s going to be a huge job to transform it into a beautiful home that houses 14 young people.”

Dani: “Which brings us to our exciting 2025 collaboration as part of National Homelessness Week (4-10 August). Can you tell us about how Merry People will be supporting the renovation of Cocoon #2?”

Carla: “Yes! This year, 10% of all online sales via the Australian Merry People website between August 4 - 10 will be donated to Bridge It for the renovation of Cocoon #2. This will create more affordable housing for young women and gender diverse people, which is incredibly exciting for the growth of our cause. However, with pretty much no cash, no builder, no tradies - nothing, our big plan is to get this whole renovation done for free. So funds like those donated by Merry People sales during National Homeless Week make all the difference and will actually bring this renovation to life so we can open the doors by April 2026.”

Dani: “We’re in to help, boots and all! How else can our Merry Community support Bridge It?”

Carla: “Donations are always appreciated, and people can sign up as monthly supporters. Any tradies plus skilled volunteers such as electricians, plumbers, etc, would help us to renovate the building and support young women in safe, supportive homes.”