Next Step Recovery is a young organization with a remarkable story.  Just five years ago, many people told our Founder and Director, Susan Stader, that getting a transitional living facility started in Asheville would be impossible.  After all, two facilities had just closed down.  But through will and skill, and because its services are so needed, Next Step Recovery was not only born, but has survived its infancy and is growing like a teenager.

 Next Step Recovery now serves women as well as men.  It has a proven track record, a waiting list, and a growing reputation for excellence.  As a Board, we would accept nothing less.   We know how vitally important this work is.  Some of us are recovered addicts while others have a close relationship with one.  We have joined this effort as a way of giving back, of thanking the people who helped us or our loved ones.  Like Susan, we are dedicated to giving those now striving to live substance-free, the structures, counseling, and support they need.

 As a Board, we have been focused on Next Step Recovery’s work and its mission.  But to accomplish that mission – to help Next Step Recovery grow and become sustainable for the long run – we have had to become fund-raisers.

 Next Step Recovery does not receive any financial support from the government.  The entry fees and rent from our residents, most of very modest means, provide the bulk of our operating funds.  We now need to supplement these funds and the small grants we have received, with contributions from you, our community.

 So we are taking “OUR NEXT STEP.”  This is the name for our new annual campaign to provide the tradition of giving needed to maintain our quality care, improve our facilities, and to make the Next Step Recovery program sustainable long term.  The needs are many: funding treatment for those who can’t afford the entry fee, retaining high quality staff with salaries that are at an appropriate level, providing daily transportation, building a mortgage fund so we can invest in the buildings that house our programs, and more.

Next Step Recovery provides structured supervision, counseling, life skills training and a sense of community that offers comfort, understanding, and strength.  Although our residents have completed ‘detox’ and are living substance-free, they face temptation daily along with the stress of lost jobs and relationships.  They are at a tender, early, vulnerable stage.  But they are deeply committed to their own recovery as a condition of admittance to Next Step Recovery.  Daily random drug and alcohol screening is an expected part of living here.  So is finding and keeping a job or attending school.   The staff at Next Step Recovery is there every step of the way to help residents go about the serious work of making the successful transition back to everyday life, substance-free.

We are the Next Step Recovery Board of Directors. We invite you to take OUR NEXT STEP with us. We thank you in advance for your time and support.