• 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.

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 Community Service Supervisor. He worked with a range of Drug Court clients who helped the elderly with yard work and painted over graffiti throughout the City. More recently, he was also the Yakima County Juvenile Justice Restorative Community Service Leader where he coordinated young people doing community service at the Union Gospel Mission kitchen as well as cleaning up Yakima parks, lakes and streams.