On July 30th Knoxville Field Office Director Mark Brezina spoke at the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority (KHRA) homeownership celebration luncheon in Kingsport where approximately 50 individuals including local officials, lenders, community partners and new homeowners also participated in a recognition ceremony for those individuals and organizations that were instrumental in developments success.

Mark Brezina addressed the attendees and said that homeownership is the basis of our economy and that he was happy for the new homeowners and community as these achievements would not have been possible without the support of all those present today. HUD, Mayor Phillips, and various community partners received awards for their contributions as well from KHRA while new homeowners were presented with gift certificates. Helen Bunting, pictured, receiving her gifts, was Kingsport Housing's first public housing resident to become a HOPE VI homeowner.

The Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Agency has closed 20 homes recently, sixteen of them under the HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) program; the others involving Section 8 homeownership. There will be 24 single family detached homes under the HOPE VI program (note picture).

The 24 homeownership units are being built in the Sherwood/Hiwassee and Riverview neighborhoods. Several of the homes will also include geothermal heating systems.