HUD-certified counseling organization to participate in Freddie Mac’s SmartMH program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grant Beck, Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: (202) 851-7550
Email: g.beck@nextstepus.org
LOUISVILLE, KY – March 20, 2019 –Today, Next Step Network is pleased to announce that OnTrack WNC Financial Education & Counseling (OnTrackWNC), a North Carolina-based housing counseling organization, is the latest organization to join Next Step’s efforts to promote the use of affordable, energy-efficient factory-built homes.
“We are thankful to have OnTrack WNC’s expertise in financial education and counseling as part of our expanding network of organizations dedicated to affordable housing solutions,” said Stacey Epperson, president and founder of Next Step Network. “We hope that our collaborative work will provide a path to sustainable, affordable homeownership for more individuals and families in western North Carolina.”
OnTrack WNC is a community-supported, United Way agency that helps North Carolinians achieve their housing goals through financial education, counseling and support. They provide services to clients so that they can overcome crises, afford basic needs, improve money management skills and make sound financial choices rooted in their values.
“We’re excited to be doing everything we can to ensure that factory-built homes are fairly and adequately included in our education and counseling,” said Jonathon Stansell, program development and homebuyer program director for OnTrack WNC. “We want to ensure our clients and our community consider all good housing options.”
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.
***
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 OnTrack WNC
OnTrack WNC helps people achieve their money and housing
goals through financial education, counseling and support so that they can
overcome crises, afford basic needs, improve money management skills and make
sound financial choices rooted in their values.