Tennessee-based nonprofit finances affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grant Beck, Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: (202) 851-7550
Email: g.beck@nextstepus.org
LOUISVILLE, KY – March 28, 2019 – Today, Next Step Network is pleased to announce that The Housing Fund, a regional leader in affordable housing and community development initiatives in middle Tennessee, is the latest organization to join Next Step’s efforts to promote the use of affordable, energy-efficient factory-built homes.
“The Housing Fund’s expertise in promoting affordable homeownership is a welcome addition to our expanding network of partners,” said Stacey Epperson, president and founder of Next Step Network. “Working collaboratively, we can reach more families in middle Tennessee with counseling and education services that will enable them to successfully purchase a home.”
The Housing Fund has assisted more than 4,000 first-time home buyers receive more than $28 million in downpayment assistance loans, as well as providing more than $55 million in financing to assist individuals and organizations purchase, rehabilitate, or construct homes for low- and moderate-income families.
“Our commitment to helping individuals and communities create and maintain affordable and healthy place for low- and moderate-income people to live aligns with the mission of the Next Step Network,” said Marshall Crawford, president and CEO of The Housing Fund. “Joining the network expands our options for increasing homeownership and improving access to capital throughout Tennessee.”
Next Step members are a part of a national network of individuals, business and organizations that believe that manufactured housing is a viable, affordable, environmentally responsible solution to help solve America’s affordable housing crisis. Our members benefit from Next Step’s work to transform the manufactured housing industry. Network members are dedicated to: delivering education, removing barriers to housing, changing the image of manufactured housing, and advancing policy changes around manufactured housing finance and Duty to Serve that better benefit home buyers and communities.
Next Step’s SmartMH program connects educated homebuyers with financial institutions and manufactured home retailers to increase access to affordable, ENERGY STAR® manufactured homes with fair financing. Freddie Mac has partnered with Next Step to expand the program, while improving access to credit for prepared, manufactured homebuyers.
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About Next Step® Network, Inc.
Next Step® Network, Inc. is a national, nonprofit housing intermediary that works to promote expanded use of factory-built housing as a viable solution to address housing affordability. Our organization mobilizes a national network of mission-driven nonprofits, leaders in the manufactured housing industry and lending institutions serving home buyers and homeowners in their communities. Next Step’s system – Manufactured Housing Done Right® – connects responsible financing, comprehensive homebuyer education and delivery of high-quality, ENERGY STAR® manufactured homes at scale, creating a model that brings more value to the homeowners and communities. Learn more at www.nextstepus.org.
About The Housing Fund, Inc.
The Housing Fund, Inc., is a private 501(c)(3) organization established to finance affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization throughout Tennessee. Since its incorporation in 1996, THF has assisted more than 3,400 first-time home buyers receive more than $23 million in down payment assistance loans, as well as providing more than $42 million in financing to assist individuals and organizations purchase, rehabilitate or construct homes for low and moderate income families.