Tampa Republic

The City of Tampa's housing community is set to celebrate the years-long journey of a local couple toward homeownership on Friday. Jacqueline and Patrick Knox have spent sixteen years working towards their dream of owning a home, navigating challenges such as rising interest rates, housing prices, and tough competition.

With assistance from the Housing and Education Alliance (HEA), a partner of the City of Tampa, the Knoxes attended first-time homebuyer education classes and received pre-purchase counseling from HEA Counselor Ria Straker-Gumbs. Financial support came through the City's DARE to Own the Dream Program, which provides downpayment and closing cost assistance to qualifying homebuyers, along with funds from the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). This support enabled the Knox family to purchase a new construction home in East Tampa.

Jacqueline Knox's connection to her counselor is notable; she was present at the groundbreaking for Ria Straker-Gumbs' own home eighteen years ago. Ms. Gumbs had also been a recipient of HEA's assistance before becoming a counselor herself.

Available for interviews on Friday will be Jacqueline Knox, HEA Counselor Ria Straker-Gumbs, and Kayon Henderson, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Tampa.

The 2006 groundbreaking event for Ria Gumbs shows Jacqueline Knox on the far left, long before she would achieve her own dream of homeownership.

Contact:

306 East Jackson Street

Tampa, Florida 33602

(813) 274-8211

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