People’s United Community Foundation Awards $10,000 to Housing Development Fund

Bridgeport, CT – December 27, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — This December, People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced that it has awarded a $10,000 grant to Housing Development Fund in Stamford.

Since 1989, Housing Development Fund has specialized in affordable housing solutions designed to work in the high-cost markets of western Connecticut. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), an HUD-certified Housing Counseling Agency, and a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, Housing Development Fund also provides financial education and counseling services

The funding from People’s United Community Foundation will support Housing Development Fund’s Affordable Housing Counseling Programs, which offer free counseling services to low- and moderate-income families to help them achieve and sustain homeownership.

The counselors who work with clients one-on-one as a part of HDF’s First-Time Homebuyer Program lay the foundation for accessible and stable homeownership. “Our helping somebody become a homeowner is just the beginning. We want them to stay successful as a homeowner. We really want them to transform their lives over time,” said Joan Carty, President and CEO of the Housing Development Fund.

“Housing Development Fund addresses affordable housing from all sides and has been a tremendous resource for individuals and families in Connecticut,” said Vincent Santilli, Executive Director of People’s United Community Foundation. “HDF has a strong track record of success in increasing the supply of affordable housing, keeping families in their homes when faced with foreclosure, and helping first-time homebuyers achieve homeownership.”

Established in 2007, People’s United Community Foundation was formed to help support programs and activities that enhance the quality of life for citizens in the communities that People’s United Bank serves. People’s United Bank, founded in 1842 and serving customers from New York to Maine through a network of 410 branches, is the largest independent bank headquartered in New England. The Foundation places special emphasis on programs designed to promote economic self-sufficiency, education and improved conditions for low-income families and neighborhoods. The funding priorities of the Foundation include community development, youth development, and affordable housing.

[Photo cutline, left to right: Vincent Santilli, Executive Director, People’s United Community Foundation; Joanne Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Housing Development Fund; Karen Galbo, Marketing, Public and Community Relations Director, People’s United Community Foundation; and Valerie Senew, Greater Fairfield County Growth Manager, People’s United Bank.]