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SALLISAW, OK - The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation (HACN) recently held a "Welcome Home" picnic for new residents of the Sam Ed Bush housing addition in Sallisaw.

"A proud people have joined together to help build these housing additions and I'm hoping this is really the beginning so more people can have a nice place to live," said Sam Ed Bush, of Marble City.

Sam Ed Bush is a former Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member and former HACN board member, and recently helped welcome the new homeowners of the addition named after him, by attending a "Welcome Home" picnic at the Sam Ed Bush Addition in Sallisaw.

The homes at the Sam Ed Bush Addition are owned by the HACN and were renovated from low rent homes to homeownership.

Nine families, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith, District 3 Tribal Council member David Thornton, Sam Ed Bush, and the HACN Area 3 staff, attended the Sam Ed Bush Addition "Welcome Home" picnic at the addition in Sallisaw.

"We are here to dedicate this housing addition in the name of Sam Ed Bush. Places like this can become models because they show Cherokee pride in their homes," Smith said.

"I am extremely grateful to the Housing Authority and the Cherokee Nation for my home, very grateful, I love my home," said homeowner Jennifer Ringgold. "I hope to live here forever. The people at the HACN have been wonderful to me."

"This addition was low rent and HACN renovated and cleaned up the yards," said David Thornton, district 3 Tribal Council member. "This gives our people the opportunity to live the American dream, and it's due to the HACN coming here, establishing an office here. There are lots of advantages to that, and more for the people down here."

Maxine Humphrey, a Sam Ed Bush Addition homeowner, said, "We are very happy with our place and we know we got good neighbors."

"We feel a lot safer here than where we used to live," said homeowner Mary Howard, "I sleep better and I know my kids are safe here."

"Sam Ed Bush Addition is a really nice addition and we are just happy to have moved most of the people in the homes," stated Sharon Lay, HACN Area 3 Director. "Our staff worked really hard."

For more information or to apply for housing assistance in the Sequoyah County area contact the HACN area 3 Office in Sallisaw, phone: 918-774-0922.