Your Next Step Starts Here.

Next Step Living Network was founded by Fareedah Shabazz, a Licensed Practical Nurse, entrepreneur, and community advocate whose life reflects the power of second chances.

When Fareedah was released from incarceration, she faced the same uncertainty that many justice-impacted individuals experience. She didn’t have stable housing, a clear path forward, or a roadmap for rebuilding her life. She knew what it felt like to wonder where she would go next while trying to create a better future for herself and her children.

Then someone gave her an opportunity that would change the course of her life.

She was offered a position working in a group home. That job became more than employment—it gave her stability, a way to provide for her children, and a renewed sense of purpose. It also introduced her to a model of care that felt different from large institutions. The home-like environment fostered genuine relationships, individualized support, and a true sense of belonging. She quickly fell in love with that approach because it reminded her that healing happens best when people feel seen, valued, and at home.

Inspired by that experience, Fareedah pursued a career in nursing, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. Over the past two decades, she has worked across long-term care, behavioral health, home and community-based services, and care coordination, helping individuals with complex medical and social needs.

Throughout her career, she repeatedly witnessed people remain in hospitals, nursing facilities, treatment programs, or correctional settings longer than necessary—not because they needed more care, but because they had nowhere appropriate to go. She recognized that the greatest barrier wasn’t always healthcare. It was access to housing, resources, and the right community connections.

Those experiences inspired her to create Next Step Living Network.

Today, Next Step Living Network connects individuals and families with housing opportunities, reentry support, recovery resources, employment connections, transportation assistance, and community services that help people build stable, independent lives. The organization serves as a bridge between healthcare, housing providers, correctional institutions, treatment centers, social workers, and community partners to ensure that no one has to navigate life’s transitions alone.
Fareedah believes everyone deserves more than a second chance they deserve the opportunity to build a life filled with dignity, purpose, and hope.

“I know what it’s like to wonder where you’ll go after the doors open. Someone believed in me when I needed it most. Next Step Living Network exists so we can be that bridge for someone else.”
 Fareedah Shabazz