Over the last 9 months, Hansen has been supporting Bridge It on Cocoon 2, a pro bono project in St Kilda providing safe, long-term housing and support for young women and gender-diverse people impacted by homelessness and the out-of-home-care-system.

Working alongside the Bridge It team, Hansen’s Development Advisory team has assisted in securing planning approval for the refurbishment and adaptive reuse of an old residential building into community care accommodation for female-identifying people aged 16-21. The project builds on the success of the original Cocoon initiative, launched in 2021 in collaboration with HousingFirst.

While homelessness is often associated with sleeping rough, many young people experience it through insecure housing, including couch surfing or temporary arrangements. With one in four young people experiencing homelessness, safe and stable housing plays a critical role in early intervention and long-term wellbeing.

The Cocoon model extends beyond housing, incorporating lived-experience, mentoring, life skills, personal development, wellness activities and structured community connection.

The Cocoon 2 project delivers 14 self-contained apartments, on-site accommodation for a full-time carer providing 24/7 support, shared communal spaces and landscaped gardens. Hansen’s Landscape Architecture team contributed to the design of the outdoor spaces.

A key aspect of the planning process involved Clause 52.22 of the Planning Scheme, which allows eligible community care accommodation projects to obtain a permit without public notice to help protect the identity, safety and wellbeing of future residents.

In this case, careful coordination was required to navigate the application of this exemption alongside additional planning requirements arising from the project’s funding structure. This ensured the purpose of the clause – supporting the confidentiality of community care accommodation was maintained throughout the approval process, enabling the project to proceed successfully.

Renovations are now underway, and we are pleased to have contributed to a project that will deliver meaningful social impact and help create a stable and supportive environment for vulnerable young people in our community.