There is a specific kind of frustration that fuels social revolution, the kind born from watching a revolving door spin for two decades. For Carla Raynes, that moment arrived in a windowless crisis accommodation center in Melbourne. After twenty years of navigating the homelessness sector across the UK and Australia, she realized she wasn’t just witnessing a social crisis; she was witnessing a systemic failure. She saw the same faces cycling through temporary beds and dangerous rooming houses, trapped in a “broken system” that offered a roof but no foundation.
The final “tipping point” was deeply personal. When Raynes sought flexibility to start her own family, she was met with a rigid “no” from a system that lacked the very care it claimed to provide. She chose to walk away, not from the mission, but from the traditional model. Guided by a coffee-shop challenge from Jane Tewson, founder of Comic Relief, who told her, “You have to set up your own charity or you won’t have the impact you want to have,” Raynes transitioned from nonprofit leader to social entrepreneur. Today, she is the force behind Bridge It and Challenge The Label, disrupting the cycle of homelessness by replacing temporary fixes with “radical dignity” and permanent connection.
Sociology, Service, and the Power of Connection
Raynes’ journey began with a formal deep dive into the structures of society, earning her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Bristol. This academic grounding was soon tested on the front lines. Her early career was defined by “boots-on-the-ground” experience, from serving as an AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) Worker at Launch Housing to becoming a Program Development Officer at the Royal Women’s Hospital.
During these formative years, Raynes recognized that homelessness was rarely just about a lack of four walls; it was about a lack of community. This insight led to her first venture into social enterprise: Home Share Melbourne. By matching people with spare bedrooms with those experiencing homelessness, she witnessed the transformative power of human connection. It was here that she learned her most vital lesson as a leader: that she could balance the “very important role of mother” with the demands of a CEO, running the enterprise while raising her first child.
Scaling Impact Through Radical Collaboration
In 2021, Raynes launched Bridge It, a charity specifically designed to support young women transitioning out of the out-of-home-care system. Her flagship program, The Cocoon, is a masterclass in what she calls “radical collaboration”. While the sector often operates from a mindset of scarcity, Raynes approaches it with the ambition of a high-end developer.
When government funding for renovations stalled, Raynes didn’t wait. In partnership with Housing All Australians, Raynes galvanized more than 40 businesses, including Mirvac, Dulux, and Westpac, to complete a $1.7M renovation delivered 90% pro-bono. Under her leadership, Bridge It has raised $5M in cash and another $5M in pro-bono support in just under five years. The result is 19 studio apartments that prioritize beauty and high-end design, rooted in the belief that those who have experienced the most hardship deserve the most dignity.
“Entrepreneurs see solutions more than problems, and I have come to believe that this is how my brain is wired,” Raynes notes, reflecting on her ability to bridge the gap between corporate resources and social needs. Her work has earned her prestigious titles, including the Westpac Social Change Fellow and the AMP Tomorrow Maker.
Amplifying Voices and Changing the Narrative
Raynes’ influence extends beyond housing. In 2024, she founded Challenge The Label, Australia’s only social enterprise women’s speaker agency. The agency is a “passion project” designed to amplify the voices of diverse women, particularly those with lived experience of homelessness or adversity. By directing 50% of the agency’s profits back into social impact funds, she has created a self-sustaining ecosystem of reform.
Her impact is perhaps most visible in the cultural shift she is championing. As the 2025 Y Victorian Mother of the Year, Raynes is a vocal advocate for “lived experience leadership” and the integration of motherhood into executive roles. She believes that the next generation of social reform in Australia will be led by those who have walked the path, supported by a social contract that values personal development and flexible leadership.
A Legacy of Thriving
As she looks toward the horizon, Raynes is focused on scaling The Cocoon program across Australia, ensuring that no young woman “ages out” of care into a life of instability. Her philosophy is one of continuous evolution; she currently works with five different coaches to refine her mindset, believing that a leader must be as resilient as the communities they serve.
“I know that to be the leader I aspire to be, I have to continuously develop and work on my mindset and skillset,” she says.
For Carla Raynes, the goal isn’t just to end homelessness—it’s to build a world where every woman has the space, the support, and the “beautiful home” required to truly thrive.
Editorial Note:
Carla Raynes’ journey serves as a powerful reminder that “disruption” is not just about technology, it is about empathy. Her ability to leverage corporate partnerships to solve systemic human crises offers a blueprint for the future of social entrepreneurship.
