This is the first of many profiles we'll be publishing over the coming weeks shining the spotlight on VHFA's participating lenders. People’s United Bank is a subsidiary of People's United Financial Inc., a diversified financial services company with $25 billion in assets. Founded in 1842, the bank's the largest independent bank in New England and provides consumer, commercial and wealth management services through nearly 340 branches in Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

VHFA has listed for sale a home at 68 Maple Street, East Haven. The price for the 3-bedroom, 1-bath house is just $64,000, after a $16,000 grant.

This house is one of the latest to come through the Housing Acquisition & Rehabilitation Program (HARP), where VHFA acquires foreclosed properties from banks, renovates them, and resells them to income-eligible Vermonters.

View the complete property listing.

VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter joined U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's Mike McNamara on his "Housing and Communities" program yesterday.

The 30-minute show will re-air:

1. Thursday June 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM
2. Monday June 6, 2011 at 3:00 PM
3. Monday June 13, 2011 at 3:00 PM
4. Monday June 20, 2011 at 3:00 PM

It'll also be available for streaming at the CCTV site soon.

The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) Fair Housing Project are hosting five focus groups throughout the state in June to discuss fair housing.

They'll explore the factors that might impact the ability of all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, of similar income to have the same housing choices.