Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Executive Director Maura Collins was recently appointed to the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) Board and Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB) Advisory Council. These two organizations play a key role in shaping housing finance policy in New England and beyond.
The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created by the nation's state housing finance agencies (HFAs), including VHFA. HFAs administer a variety of affordable housing and community development programs. NCSHA is responsible for sharing best practices and educating members as well as advocating for federal housing policy priorities. Collins was nominated and voted onto the Board in October by her fellow executive directors of the member state agencies.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB) is part of the FHLBank System, a group of 11 regional government-sponsored banks created to increase the availability of credit for housing and community development. FHLBanks provide billions of dollars annually in low-cost funding to nearly 6,900 financial institutions across the county. The 14-member FHLBank Boston Advisory Council includes housing leaders from throughout New England who advise the bank on administering its programs. Collins joins Vermonters Cindy Reid of Cathedral Square Corporation and Elizabeth Bridgewater of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust.
Collins is also the Chair of the Board of Directors at Pathways Vermont, a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness and providing mental healthcare and serves on the board of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.