In Maryland, outdated zoning once limited where factory-built homes could go. But in 2024, Maryland passed HB 538, opening the door to more affordable, high-quality homes in more communities. ➡️ Before: Limited placement, restricted supply ➡️ After: More options, more access, more opportunity The U.S. is short millions of homes, and zoning reform is widely recognized as a key solution. #AffordableHousing #ZoningReform #FactoryBuiltHousing #HousingPolicy #HousingSupply
Next Step Network
Non-profit Organizations
Louisville, Kentucky 614 followers
We're a nonprofit social enterprise creating affordable homeownership opportunities through factory-built homes.
About us
Our mission is putting sustainable homeownership within reach of everyone, while transforming the manufactured housing industry through consumer education, affordability and energy efficiency. We offer unique experience, expertise and resources in the factory-built housing space. Next Step connects community-oriented nonprofit organizations with manufactured housing builders, retail centers and lenders dedicated to delivering quality, sustainable homeownership.
- Website
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http://www.nextstepus.org
External link for Next Step Network
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2011
- Specialties
- Affordable Housing, Manufactured Housing, and Training and Technical Assistance
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
1355 Bardstown Rd
Suite 116
Louisville, Kentucky 40204, US
Employees at Next Step Network
Updates
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Join experts from across the industry for the upcoming webinar “What Holds It All Together: Installation of Off-Site Housing, the Chassis, and Housing Outcomes.” Hosted by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Innovations in Manufactured and Modular Homes (I’m HOME) Network, this session will explore: 🔹 The role of foundations, anchoring systems, and the permanent chassis 🔹 How installation standards interact with federal, state, and local regulations 🔹 Opportunities to improve installation practices and housing outcomes 🔹 Policy and regulatory considerations affecting factory-built housing 🗓 March 31, 2026 ⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM ET 👉 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/g_sZPmiD
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Affordable financing is often considered a significant barrier to factory-built homeownership - but it doesn't have to be. Modern factory-built homes may qualify for: - Conventional 30-year mortgages - FHA, VA, and USDA loans - Down payment assistance programs - Specialized GSE-backed financing Understanding title, land ownership, and foundation requirements makes all the difference. We’ve outlined what buyers and the housing professionals who help them should know. Read the full breakdown: https://ow.ly/Ikf550Ykl4m #HousingPolicy #FactoryBuiltHousing #AffordableHousingSolutions #MortgageFinance #CommunityDevelopment
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As the U.S. housing affordability crisis deepens, factory-built housing is moving from the margins of housing policy conversations to the center of practical solutions. Rising construction costs, persistent labor shortages, climate-driven disasters, and growing demand for energy-efficient homes have converged to create a pivotal moment for off-site construction. This market outlook examines the current state of factory-built housing, the trends shaping its trajectory, and what developers, nonprofits, and communities should watch for as we continue into 2026.
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We’re proud to see growing momentum around affordable, energy-efficient factory-built housing in Kentucky and beyond. As housing costs continue to rise, partnerships like these highlight how modern factory-built homes can expand access to high-quality, resilient homeownership - especially for first-time buyers, homeowners looking to age in place, and communities most impacted by the housing shortage.
The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy has partnered with Next Step Network and the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute to educate state/local officials and the public on how manufactured housing can deliver affordable, energy-efficient homes for Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. Through this partnership, we will demonstrate the power of solar energy on manufactured homes that meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficient New Homes Standard (formerly Zero Energy Ready) at three manufactured housing communities across Kentucky - inviting the community to see next-generation manufactured housing in action. Read our blog post to learn more! https://lnkd.in/ebGuey9q
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At Next Step, we prioritize homebuyer education because preparation and knowledge can change outcomes. Buying a home - especially a factory-built home - comes with unique decisions around financing, energy efficiency, and placement. Clear, unbiased education helps buyers avoid surprises, ask better questions, and move toward purchase with confidence. When buyers are informed, the entire housing system works better.
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How can nonprofits create steady, reliable revenue beyond grants and government contracts? On the latest episode of the "On a Mission for Nonprofit Leaders" podcast, our President & CEO, Stacey Epperson, shares practical ways organizations can grow earned income and build a stronger financial foundation. 🎧 Tune in: https://lnkd.in/eEJfGNgv
💥 Is your nonprofit feeling the squeeze from shrinking federal funding this year? You’re certainly not alone. Stacey Epperson, Founder & CEO of Next Step Network, talks about why now is the perfect time for nonprofits to explore earned income opportunities – revenue that can replace less stable government funding and give your nonprofit a more reliable financial footing. On our latest episode of “On a Mission for Nonprofit Leaders,” hosts John Gillespie and Kimberly Guarino Bulger sit down with Stacey to explore the real value of earned income strategies. In this conversation, Stacey shares: 🌱 How nonprofits can take the first steps towards earned income 💡 How she raised her own startup funds to get her ideas off the ground 🤝 The way she approached partners and built early support 📖 Her best advice for leaders considering an earned income model It’s a practical, down-to-earth conversation with a ton of insight for nonprofits looking to build more sustainable revenue. 🎧 Give it a listen: Innovative Earned Income Strategies to Help Your Nonprofit Grow https://lnkd.in/eEJfGNgv #NonprofitLeadership #EarnedIncomeStrategies #NonprofitSustainability #SocialImpact
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On November 20, Next Step will join other leaders in affordable housing for a discussion about what’s next for advancing manufactured and modular housing as integral parts of the nation’s affordable housing strategy. Learn More & Register: https://lnkd.in/eYpq-GV6
Building on insights from the 2025 Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I’m HOME) Annual Conference in Atlanta, a follow-up webinar on Thursday, November 20, at 11 am ET will revisit several of the conference’s most talked-about sessions. Leaders from across the I’m HOME Network will unpack what’s next for advancing manufactured and modular housing as integral parts of the nation’s affordable housing strategy. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eYpq-GV6 Featuring speakers Kahya Fox (Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region), Grant Beck (VP Strategic Partners, Next Step Network), David V Sanchez (SVP National Strategy, ROC USA), Ryan Sears (Head of Policy and Research, nphs), and Jeanee Wright (Acquisitions Manager, ROC USA)
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