Tedford Housing Enlists Nature to Get More People Into Housing
Brunswick shelter agency unveils outdoor facility elements and debuts sustainability commitments at a public celebration on May 22.
BRUNSWICK, Maine — Tedford Housing’s “Nature Is Nurture” event will unveil curated spaces to learn, play, connect and heal at its shelter facility on Friday, May 22 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. The free event will showcase ways in which the agency is building supportive connections to the natural world, in service of its mission: empowering people to move from homelessness to home.
The projects being dedicated have been brought to life with community collaborators who will be recognized at the event. These include a rooftop solar photovoltaic array; a 72-foot exterior mural that playfully counters stereotypes about homelessness; a lush ADA-accessible walking path; a covered outdoor classroom; a variety of flower and vegetable gardens and more.
Tedford’s approach to curating its three acre campus reflects decades of science showing how access to natural settings can restore cognitive capacities that are depleted by the ordeal of homelessness. “Contact with nature replenishes memory, focus, and cognitive flexibility that have been wiped out by chronic stress,” said Andrew Lardie, Tedford’s Executive Director.
Director of Programs Michelle Baldwin ties the facility and program enhancements to Tedford’s core mission. “Our focus is getting the most guests into permanent housing as quickly as possible,” says Baldwin. “With the conditions shelters have faced recently - out-of-reach rents, a long freeze on vouchers, and 80% longer shelter stays statewide - we have an opportunity and a responsibility to engage more deeply with people in the time they are with us.”
Programming associated with these projects is still in development, but staff have already noticed the impact of the new facility’s setting. “We’re seeing that these little pockets of nature make a real difference in guests’ mood and stress levels,” Lardie added. “As we put these resources to work, we expect to see it show up in how people work on their housing plans, how families get along, and integration with the community. We’re going to see it in the data.”
Tedford’s commitment to a culture of care is also reflected in its pursuit of a smaller environmental footprint. Their first-ever slate of sustainability commitments will also be announced at the event. Resource conservation and waste management practices represent huge progress compared to the buildings Tedford inhabited for decades. And new efficiencies mean hard-won funds stretch further to serve the community.
Tedford’s nature aspirations reflect an ethos popularized by Teddy Roosevelt: doing what we can, with what we have, where we are. While the organization’s campus is modest in scale, its approach is grounded in the idea that meaningful connections to nature can be cultivated gradually and intentionally in any setting. As environmental psychologist Rachel Kaplan observed, “Nature doesn’t have to be pervasive. One tree is an awful lot better than no tree.” Through intentional design and community partnerships, Tedford is demonstrating how even modest connections to nature can foster restoration, dignity, and belonging for neighbors navigating housing instability.