Clayton Announces $300,000 Donation to Next Step Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, a Berkshire Hathaway company and one of the leading builders of prefabricated and site built homes, presented a check today to Next Step Network to help support the ongoing efforts of the non-profit organization to help deliver access to affordable, quality housing to American families.

"Clayton continues to be a powerful ally to Next Step through both their generous philanthropy and impactful partnerships on affordable housing projects across the country," said Stacey Epperson, president & founder of Next Step. "By expanding the availability of affordable, ENERGY STAR® certified homes in communities, we can give more hardworking individuals and families the opportunity to achieve their dream of homeownership."

A check for $300,000 was presented in Nashville at the I'M HOME Conference to Epperson by Clayton Director of Philanthropy Susan Brown. These funds are intended to support non-profit housing work in communities across the country throughout 2019. Next Step will leverage these funds to support affordable housing development work by their network members and provide additional resources to help them deliver Next Step's Manufactured Housing Done Right® model.

"The I'M HOME Conference was the perfect forum to announce our renewed support to Next Step," said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes. "With affordable housing options being less attainable every day, we feel it is essential to stand alongside dedicated organizations changing lives for the better through homeownership. Our donation will help families across America that deserve to own a beautiful new home of their own."

Clayton and Next Step have worked closely together over the past several years to provide new ENERGY STAR® certified, factory-built homes to communities nationwide. In 2017, Clayton donated $250,000 to support Next Step's cause. This past September, Clayton and Next Step co-wrote and published a white paper titled, 'Shedding the Stigma: Today's manufactured homes offer high quality, energy efficient and stylish options for affordable housing' and an educational fact sheet. Clayton and Next Step are both committed to challenging the outdated stigma associated with manufactured homes and educating the public about this modern, innovative solution to affordable housing.

Next Step Network's membership is made up of non-profit organizations, manufactured housing retailers, and lending institutions. Since 2013, Next Step member organizations have delivered 649 ENERGY STAR® certified, factory-built homes to communities nationwide.

ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Next Step Network® mobilizes a national network of non-profits to provide affordable housing tailored to the needs of communities that they serve. Their system – Manufactured Housing Done Right® – connects responsible financing, comprehensive homebuyer education and delivery of high-quality, ENERGY STAR® certified manufactured homes at scale, creating a model that brings more value to the customer. Learn more at www.nextstepus.org.

About Clayton
Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness® through homeownership. As a diverse builder committed to quality and durability, Clayton offers traditional site-built homes and off-site built housing – including modular homes, manufactured homes, CrossMod® homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments. All Clayton Built® homes are proudly designed and constructed in America. In 2022, Clayton built 62,620 homes across the country. Clayton is a Berkshire Hathaway company. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.
*CrossMod is a registered trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute. *

Next Step Network® mobilizes a national network of non-profits to provide affordable housing tailored to the needs of communities that they serve. Their system – Manufactured Housing Done Right® – connects responsible financing, comprehensive homebuyer education and delivery of high-quality, ENERGY STAR® certified manufactured homes at scale, creating a model that brings more value to the customer. Learn more at www.nextstepus.org.