In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Maura Collins, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). With more than two decades at VHFA, Maura shares how Vermont’s unique rural landscape shapes its housing challenges and the innovative strategies her agency is using to respond. From the state’s growing second-home market to the pandemic-driven housing crunch, Maura explains why Vermont needs to triple its home construction by 2030 and how employers, policymakers, and communities are coming together through initiatives like “Let’s Build Homes.” She also highlights VHFA’s upgraded credit rating, its 50-year milestone, and the delicate balance of advancing financial sustainability while staying true to its social mission. Katie and Maura explore the real-world impact of rising housing costs on everyday Vermonters, the role of public-private partnerships, and why affordable housing solutions must evolve beyond short-term fixes. If you’re interested in innovative approaches to solving the housing shortage and what it takes to keep small communities thriving, this conversation offers both practical insights and inspiration.