About this Recovery Home
Next Step Housing - Naches Avenue is a coed sober living residence in Yakima, Washington, in Yakima County, part of the alcohol and drug-free housing network the nonprofit has operated in the Yakima Valley since 1991.
A Sober House on North Naches Avenue
North Naches Avenue sits close to downtown Yakima, putting residents within walking distance of the county courthouse, city offices and a stretch of outpatient providers that many people new to recovery are already required to visit on a schedule. That proximity removes a transportation problem that a more remote address would create.
Drug-Free Housing Backed by Testing
Next Step Housing enforces its zero-tolerance alcohol and drug policy with monthly drug and breathalyzer testing instead of relying on a house rule alone. Every resident in the building lives under that same standard, which gives the household a level of accountability that ordinary rental housing does not offer.
A Coed Household Model
Men and women live together in this Yakima recovery home, and the shared standard of sobriety, not a gender split, is what holds the household together. That model suits a resident who wants recovery housing without the wait for a single-gender opening.
Serving Yakima County's Recovery Community
As the seat of Yakima County, the city concentrates the courts, treatment providers and entry-level jobs that most incoming residents need in the first weeks of a new address. A downtown-adjacent unit like this one keeps all three within reach.
Reaching Next Step Housing
Applications for this address go directly to Next Step Housing, which can confirm current availability, the testing schedule and whether the unit suits an individual or a household.
12 ones and 4 two-bedrooms
Single adults with established sobriety
Small families with established sobriety
 Housing / Awards
In 2015, Next Step Housing's (NSH) Pear Tree Place Apartments received the National Community of Quality Award for Exemplary Development for People with Special Needs from the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA);
Also in 2015, Keith Erickson, Maintenance Co-Superintendent, received the Maintenance Person of the Year Award from the Affordable Housing Management Association of Washington (AHMA-WA);
In 2013, Michael Ryckman, Maintenance Co-Superintendent, received the 2013 Success Story of the Year Award from AHMA-WA. This was the first award of its kind inspired by Mr. Ryckman's career with NSH;
In 2011, the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance presented NSH with the 2011 Movement Building Award for exemplary affordable housing advocacy;
In 2008, Diana McClaskey, NSH's Deputy Director, received the Community Hero Award for homeless advocacy services from the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless;
Also in 2008, Connie Cleary, NSH's Asset Manager, received the Site Manager of the Year Award from AHMA-WA;
Again that year, AHMA-WA also presented John Mifsud, NSH's Executive Director, with their 2008 Pioneer in Affordable Housing Award;
In 2007, NSH was awarded the Washington State Housing Finance Commission Friend of Housing Award;
In 2004, the NAHMA honored the Sommerset Apartments and NSH with the National Community of Quality Award for Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property;
In 1997, NSH won the National Tax Credit Housing Coalition Award for Excellence
STAFF
John Mifsud (since June 1995)
Executive Director
Mr. Mifsud is celebrating 22 years as Executive Director of NSH. He has over 40 years of program design, implementation and management experience as well as 35 years of experience in property management and development in the private, non-profit and public sectors. A long-term housing advocate for people with special needs, Mr. Mifsud developed the first affordable, independent clean and sober housing units for families with children in the State of Washington. Mr. Mifsud has managed portfolios of 800+ units in four states including commercial properties and tax credit developments. A Certified Families for Self-Sufficiency Specialist, Mr. Mifsud also designed and supervised on-site case management services for a diversity of special needs populations in Washington. Currently, Mr. Mifsud manages all staff as well as finances, fundraising, land acquisition, new developments and major capital improvements for NSH.
Diana McClaskey (since March 2002)
Deputy Director
Pear Tree Place
Ms. McClaskey reached sobriety in October 2001 and moved into an NSH property in November of that year. She became the House Manager in March of 2002. She has dedicated herself to NSH and has managed every property in our portfolio. Diana is also the Resident Manager and Case Management Supervisor for Pear Tree Place I, II & III. Ms. McClaskey supervises a staff of six employees for NSH and has full responsibility for all leasing, rent collection, compliance, income certifications and resident files. As Deputy Director, she supervises all on-site management and maintenance staff.
Connie Cleary (since January 2005)
Asset Manager
Sommerset Apartments
Ms. Cleary achieved sobriety in 2003 and began working for NSH as a Housekeeper. She was promoted to Resident Manager in 2006. Ms. Cleary is a veteran with certified training in customer service. Connie became the NSH Asset Manager in 2007. Ms. Cleary has managed two comprehensive capital renovations at both the Clean House and the Lamplighter Apartments. She managed all on-site maintenance staff as well as subcontractors and inspections. She is currently the Resident Manager of the Sommerset Apartments as also acts as the On-Site Case Manager for 11 homeless/disabled units. She has dedicated her life to NSH and the people who benefit from the agency's supportive housing.
Keith Erickson (since January 2010)
Maintenance Superintendent
Mr. Erickson shares the title of NSH Maintenance Superintendent with Mike Ryckman. Keith became sober in 2007 and has been working with NSH since 2010. He is active in the Yakima Narcotics Anonymous community. Keith says, “Working with people in recovery is really a dream come true for me. I love that I am on staff at Next Step. Being of service to my community helps keeps me clean and sober.â€
Rigoberto Dominguez (since April 2013)
Case Manager
Mr. Dominguez originally came to NSH as a resident in 2010. In 2012, he began working for NSH as a People 4 People intern through their Parents Work First Program. He was hired as a Case Manager to work with homeless veterans at Pear Tree Place III in 2013. He received his Associates of Applied Science in Chemical Dependency Counseling from Yakima Valley Community College in 2012 and completed his Bachelor of Science in Religion in 2012. Mr. Dominguez is bilingual and bicultural and also works for Yakima Memorial Hospital as a Chaplin focused on hospice and end of life care services. He sits on the hospital's Ethics Committee and Critical Incidents Team and is curren
Josh Shay (since January 2019)
Maintenance Specialist
Mr. Shay joined the NSH Maintenance Team after working as the Yakima Superior Court Comm
