Mission & History
- Our Story
- Annual Reports
Mission & History
Next Step’s mission is to put sustainable homeownership within reach of everyone, while transforming the manufactured housing industry through consumer education, affordability and energy efficiency.
Our Story
Next Step® Network was created out of a desire to make factory-built homes a practical, sustainable solution for those looking to own their home.
While working in rural Appalachia, our founder Stacey Epperson saw many homeowners struggling with their older mobile homes – upside-down on loans and behind on sky-high utility bills. Recognizing the need for safe, sustainable, and affordable housing, she began questioning how to bring high-performing, new, factory-built homes to communities across the country.
Next Step was founded on the principle of Manufactured Housing Done Right®: helping families gain access to high-quality, energy-efficient homes – creating prepared, supported and educated homeowners.
In 2011, Next Step was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization wholly dedicated to building relationships between the factory-built housing industry, housing developers, affordable housing advocates, lenders and other key stakeholders to deliver factory-built homes as a viable, sustainable homeownership solution.