Safe, Respectful, and Supportive Living Standards

Next Step Housing

Where individuals can build stability, grow personally and create the life they desire.

Our Mission

Next Step Housing is committed to offering men and women stable housing to achieve stability, personal growth, in an uplifting environment for those who need to focus on long term self sufficiency.

Our Vision

Providing safe, stable, all-inclusive housing that supports recovery and builds foundations for longterm stability and independence.

Where a positive mindset opens new opportunities!

At Next Step Housing we believe that embracing a positive mindset is the key to unlocking new possibilities. We support your journey of change by providing a safe, structured environment where personal growth and independence are nurtured. Here encouragement, guidance, and practical tools come together to help you overcome challenges, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward a brighter future. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and move closer to the life you envision.

Welcome to your Next Step Housing home!

We’re here to support you in a safe and welcoming environment. To help you move toward independence, these guidelines have been outlined for your success.

Please review carefully, as all residents will be expected to meet these expectations.

LIVING in your Next Step Housing Home

  • In our home, residents honor honesty, integrity, and respect, fostering a safe, cooperative, and peaceful environment.
  • You must abide by all rules of the house and all laws
  • When you first move in, you’ll have a meeting with a director or housing specialist.

This is a chance to get to know you and go over the house guidelines together.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to live independently while engaging with fellow residents in a supportive environment, focusing on your personal growth and working toward your individual goals.
  • Active Participation Required: All residents are expected to contribute to the community through work, school, or volunteering. Staying engaged supports skill development, responsibility, and independence.
  • We value partnerships with outside agencies that can help you reach your goals. Living at Next Step Housing is a chance to learn, grow, and heal.
  • All household supplies will be provided (toilet paper, paper towel, hand soap, dish soap, garbage bags)
  • As a Christian nonprofit, we warmly welcome people of all faiths.

Financial Program Fees & Policies

  1. ALL-INCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION FEE:       Determined by Property & Room
  2. INTAKE & ESSENTIALS FEE:                              $150.00

Fees for the following month must be paid no later than the 27th. If fees are not paid by this date, you will not be allowed to stay in the program. A late fee applies after 3 days past due, $25 for the first late payment and $50 all following late payments.

If you cannot pay your fees by the 27th, but would like to stay in the program, you must make a plan with a director prior to the 27th. After the 28th, if fees are not paid and a payment plan has not been agreed upon with a director, you will be expected to leave on the last day of the month.

All fees are non-refundable. If you choose to leave or are asked to leave the program prior to the end of the month, you will not be refunded the monthly fee. All fees are non refundable.

No one at the house, including residents or house leaders, is allowed to manage your finances. All fees must be paid through our secure electronic payment system.

Curfew & Overnight Pass

  1. Curfew is 10pm Sunday through Thursday night.

Curfew is midnight Friday and Saturday night.

The only exception is a verified work schedule and holidays, approved by a director.

  1. You will be asked to provide a work schedule to the house leader and director. Curfew is enforced unless you provide proof of your work schedule.
  2. Residents who are absent from the house for 48 hours without notice, no call - no show, may be exited from the program. If you plan to be away longer than 48 hours, please inform your house leader. The house leader  will consult with a program director for approval.
  3. Residents are eligible for up to four overnights per month, but must be living in the home for at least 30 days before overnights are allowed. Special circumstances, such as holidays, may be considered. All overnight requests must be submitted in writing to the house leader or director at least 24 hours in advance and approved by a director. Drug testing will be required upon returning to the home.

Drugs & Alcohol

This is a supportive housing program designed to benefit all residents. We have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol; any use will result in immediate removal from the program.

  1. You may not use or possess alcohol, drugs, or any medications that have not been prescribed to you by a physician.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) friendly.

Accepted Forms of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder include Buprenorphine, Subutex, Suboxone, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol.

  1. Drug paraphernalia is not allowed in Next Step Housing homes.
  2. Providing drugs or alcohol to another resident, or dealing drugs on or off the property, will result in immediate removal from the program. If exited, personal belongings must be collected within three days
  3. A urine drug screen will be conducted upon arrival, after returning from an overnight, or at random. Refusal to take a required test when requested by a house leader or director will result in removal from housing.
  4. If you use someone else’s urine or synthetic (store bought) urine for a drug screen, you will be exited from the program immediately.
  5. The results of your housing drug screen may be made available to emergency contacts, counselors, drug court staff, and/or law enforcement.

Medication

  1. Only medications prescribed by your healthcare provider are permitted. Possessing medication not prescribed to you may result in removal from the program.
  2. Any prescribed medication must be kept in a locked box with a copy of the prescription given to a Next Step Housing director.
  3. If you are involved in the court system, you will be expected to follow court policies.

Smoking

Smoking, vaping, & tobacco use  is allowed in the backyard but should not occur  in your room, anywhere in the house, or in the front yard. Please smoke, vape, or use tobacco only in the backyard.  Smoking, vaping, or chewing inside a residence is grounds for removal.

 

Cigarette butts are to be  disposed of in the provided approved container found in the backyard. Those who use the containers will be responsible for emptying them weekly.

Cigarette butts on the ground around any residence are to be picked up immediately by residents.

On Move-In Day

We do our best to prevent contamination and the spread of germs and bugs from entering our homes.

Residents are required to bring personal clothing, bedding, etc in plastic bags. All items must be washed in hot water with detergent and dried in a heated dryer before taking it to private rooms.

Room Accommodations

  1. Next Step Housing reserves the right and responsibility to search resident rooms and personal belongings to ensure the safety of the community. Random searches may be conducted at any time for drugs, contraband, weapons, or other prohibited or hazardous items.
  2. Rooms are expected to be kept clean and organized. Bedrooms should be cleaned daily and beds made each day. Dishes must be washed, dried, and put away after use, and trash should be taken out daily.
  3. Any food stored in your room must be kept in a sealed rodent proof container.
  4. Most rooms are shared. If your room has an open bed, you are responsible for keeping the entire space clean and organized. The spare bed, dresser, and closet must remain empty and ready for new residents
  5. You may hang items on the walls using thumbtacks or paint-approved sticky tape only. Nails, screws, or bolts are not allowed. Any major changes to the room must be approved by the directors.

Resident Duties & Home Care

You are required to clean up any area you use, including the kitchen, bathroom, and common spaces. Sanitizing products are provided to ensure all surfaces are properly cleaned.

  1. Do not put anything into the toilet except toilet paper. Putting any other objects into the toilet will cause damage.
  2. You are required to participate in weekly household responsibilities, a chores chart will be posted.
  3. If you cannot take care of your responsibilities, you need to make arrangements with another resident to cover it for you. Household responsibilities include thorough cleanup of common areas (kitchens, bathrooms, living room).  Each resident is responsible for cleaning up after themselves and for participating in communal tasks as assigned.
  4. You are expected to do your own laundry and wear clean clothes daily. No more than two laundry baskets of dirty clothes may be kept at any given time.
  5. Please turn off lights when not in use.
  6. Garbage must go out for pick up on garbage day. It is up to everyone to make sure the cans are at the curb for pick up and brought back up to the house after they are empty.
  7. Next Step Housing directors will routinely inspect each home and bedroom.
  8. Please keep your Next Step home as beautiful as you found it when you moved in.
  9. If you own a vehicle, it must be in working condition and free of issues such as oil leaks or excessive smoke. Proof of a valid driver’s license and insurance must be provided to the directors. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis and spaces are not assigned. Any damage to vehicles, whether caused by you or to your vehicle, is the responsibility of the individuals involved; the program does not mediate or cover repairs.

Animal Free Environment

To ensure comfort and safety in our shared spaces, we are not able to allow pets or animals in the home.

Personnel Possessions

You agree not to bring the following items onto the property or into the home: alcohol, illegal drugs, syringes, drug paraphernalia, firearms, knives, weapons of any kind, or pornographic materials. Reasonable suspicion of these items may result in a search of your room or personal belongings by staff. Possession of any prohibited item will result in removal from the program.

  1. Next Step Housing is not responsible for your personal property.
  2. Any borrowing or lending of money or personal items is done at your own risk. Residents are responsible for the security of their own belongings. Personal items kept in common areas are stored at the resident’s own risk.
  3. Stealing of any kind is grounds for immediate removal from the program. This includes bringing stolen property into the home or taking another person’s medication. Any resident found stealing will be required to exit the program.
  4. Taking another resident’s food without permission is considered stealing. Always ask before taking items from the refrigerator or other food storage areas. Make sure you know whether food is designated as shared or personal, and label your food and beverages with your name if you do not wish to share.
  5. Any personal property left behind after exiting the program will be disposed of after 10 days if arrangements are not made in advance. Limited storage may be available. We are unable to store belongings long term, so please arrange for someone to collect your items if you are unable to do so yourself. 

Drug Screening and Toxicology Regulations

Drug and toxicology testing are used to maintain a safe and sober living environment and to ensure residents receive the appropriate level and type of support.

With the resident’s consent, our providers may review drug test results from partner agencies, such as criminal justice programs or treatment providers. Sharing results collaboratively is encouraged to support resident progress.

If a resident disputes the results of a breathalyzer or drug screen, they may request a retest at their own expense within 12 hours at a licensed confirmation laboratory, with blood testing preferred for accuracy. Results must be sent directly from the lab to nextstephousingmi@gmail.com.

House Safety & Security

No visitors are permitted on the property. Extended family, friends, and acquaintances are not allowed at any time.

  1. Door codes are not to be shared. If you give your door code to someone else, or let someone in with your code, it is considered a breach of house safety and will be grounds for an exit of the program.
  2. Immediate family members may tour your Next Step home on move-in day or at a prearranged time. Visit requests must be submitted to a housing director at least 48 hours in advance. Visits are limited to one hour, and guests are only permitted in common areas.
  3. To ensure everyone’s safety, physical violence or threats are not allowed. Any acts or threats of violence by you or anyone on the property will result in immediate removal from the program and will be reported to the proper authorities. 

Guidelines For Resident Interaction

  1. Residents shall not ask other residents for money, request that they sign paperwork for courts or other organizations, or sign paperwork on behalf of other residents.
  2. Residents must communicate with each other to resolve conflicts. If a conflict cannot be resolved independently, they should seek support from the house leader or director. If the matter continues the removal of both residents may occur.
  3. We will not knowingly move someone into the house that has harmed you or provides stress to you. Please let us know if you have concerns about your safety or ability to live in a shared space with any of the residents based on prior history.
  4. Our community encourages residents to look out for each other’s health and safety. Residents are expected to speak up if they see rule violations or any activities that could affect personal or community safety, and to openly discuss concerns during house meetings
  5. All resident information and group discussions are confidential and may not be shared outside the Next Step community.

Confidentiality Guidelines

Due to the fact that residents may be in transition for various reasons,  we require a Release of Information to be on file. If someone inquires about you but they are not listed on your release, we will neither confirm nor deny that you are staying within a Next Step home.

  1. Because some residents may be on Community Placement, the Department of Corrections (DOC) may have access to the premises. All residents are expected to respond politely and honestly to DOC inquiries—whether by phone, in person, or in writing—demonstrating integrity, regardless of their placement status.
  2. Upon admission, residents have confidentiality rights. A release of information allows staff to share details with your support network, and you can revoke consent at any time. Residents may not share information about others inside or outside the Next Step home.

Rules That Could Lead to Program Exit

Immediate termination of our shared housing program may result from any of the  behaviors listed in this document.

By initialing each rule, you acknowledge that you fully understand the rules and expectations. You also understand that if a rule is broken, Next Step Housing directors have the authority to remove you from the program. You will have 10 days to collect your personal belongings.

 

Name: ________________________________  House: ________________Date: _______________

❖ I have read and agree to follow the Next Step Housing Recovery Living & Guidelines ❖ I agree to follow the expectations for the benefit of all residents, including myself.

I UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING ARE CAUSES FOR EXIT OF THE PROGRAM: INITIAL
1. Possession of guns, knives, other weapons
2 Physical violence or threats of any kind. This includes threats made by your approved immediate family members and contacts
3 Breaching the safety of the house, including giving your entry code to someone else or letting them in on your code
4 Possession, use,  buying, selling, dealing, trading, or touching alcohol, drugs, medications not prescribed to you by a licensed physician, syringes, or drug paraphernalia on/off the property

 

5 Failure to report use of drugs or alcohol to Next Step house manager or directors
6 Abuse of over the counter or prescription medications
7 Steeling, buying/selling stolen goods, possession of stolen goods or any theft related incident
8 Inviting non-residents onto the property without proper authorization
9 Violation of curfew or any other house rule
10 Having a messy room or food in your room not in a rodent-proof container
11 Damaging the house intentionally or due to lack of care and/or refusing to repair or replace the damaged item
12 Soliciting money from other residents or the public
13 Arguing or using inappropriate language with directors, house managers, or residents

Resident Policies

I agree to follow all house rules and expectations, and will ask the house leader or directors if I have questions.

I will meet any court requirements and follow guidance from Next Step Housing directors.

I will treat staff and fellow residents with respect and kindness, maintain confidentiality, respect personal space and belongings, and contribute fairly to household chores.

I will immediately report any use of alcohol or drugs, including my own.

I understand that I am responsible for my personal property and that the house is not liable.

I will attempt to resolve conflicts respectfully and seek help from the house leader or directors if needed.

I understand that failure to follow these expectations may result in removal from the program.

I agree to follow the rules, take responsibility for my actions, and understand that my residency is not guaranteed. I will exit the program respectfully if required due to my behavior or any breach of this agreement.

By signing this agreement, I understand that breaking house rules, endangering safety, or leaving the program will result in changed door codes and loss of access to the property. I will schedule a time with the housing directors to collect my personal belongings if necessary.

Printed Name ___________________________________________   Date ____________________

Signature _______________________________________________ Witness__________________