ChangeMakers with Katie Goar

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Sarah Buchanan, Executive Vice President of the San Diego Housing Federation, to talk about the real challenges facing affordable housing in one of the country’s most expensive regions. Sarah shares how she entered the housing field, what makes San Diego’s housing market so difficult, and why residents now need to earn around $5...

Historic buildings can become a powerful part of a community’s future. In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Marie Cervay Hickle, Vice President at PNC, to explain how historic tax credits and new markets tax credits help bring aging buildings back to life. Marie has more than 15 years of experience in community development finance. She has helped originate and clos...

California’s housing crisis has pushed families, investors, and homeowners to rethink what housing can look like. In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Whitney Hill, co-founder and CEO of SnapADU, to explore how accessory dwelling units, better known as ADUs, are changing the housing landscape across San Diego and beyond. Whitney shares how SnapADU launched during the 2020 shu...

Affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing communities today. But how does it actually get funded? In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Jason Blain, Senior Commercial Banker at Independent Bank*, to break down how banks, developers, and public programs work together to create affordable housing. Jason shares a behind-the-scenes look at the real financial tools...

What happens when housing authorities stop pushing paper and start moving people into homes faster? In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Shaina Fite, Public Housing Manager at Yardi, breaks down how outdated systems are slowing down affordable housing and how technology is starting to change that. Shaina shares her journey from growing up in public housing to helping distribute over $2...

America doesn’t have a housing construction problem. It has a rules problem. In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Jared Jones, co-founder of Middle Housing Partners, breaks down how microfill housing, ADUs, duplexes, and small multi-unit developments are reshaping affordability. Jared explains why millions of homes are missing from the market, how outdated zoning laws slowed growth for...

Most solutions to homelessness focus on policy. Beth Silverman is taking a different approach. On this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Beth Silverman, co-founder and executive director of the Lotus Campaign, to break down how private sector partnerships are creating real housing solutions. Beth explains how her model connects landlords, developers, and social services to reduce...

Housing affordability is one of the fastest growing challenges in America.  In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Morgan Mansa breaks down what’s really happening behind the housing crisis, and why the solution is more complex than most people think.  Morgan is the Director of Housing Affordability and Community Revitalization for Wake County, one of the fastest growing regions in the U...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Dontrelle Young Foster, President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, to explore what it takes to transform communities from the inside out. Drawing on 25 years of leadership and service, Foster shares how HABD’s 90 year legacy is evolving through bold redevelopment, public private partnerships, and a lo...

On this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Family Scholar House President and CEO Cathe Dykstra for a bold conversation about what affordable housing should really accomplish.  Cathe leads one of the nation’s most comprehensive models linking housing, education, and long-term economic mobility. Serving more than 106,000 households across 48 states, Family Scholar House h...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Marcia Davis, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, and the future of affordable housing in Southwest Florida. Marcia shares how growing up in public housing shaped her career and why she chose to spend more than two decades working inside...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, Katie sits down with Evan Holladay, founder and CEO of Holladay Ventures, to explore what it truly takes to build affordable housing with lasting community impact Evan shares his path into real estate development, starting with a chance college connection and growing into a career shaped by persistence, curiosity, and service. He explains why afford...

Tiffany G. Dickerson, known across the industry as the Housing Highlighter, joins ChangeMakers with Katie Goar for a conversation about why public housing authorities must take control of their own story. Tiffany shares her unconventional path into affordable housing, moving from probation and parole work into resident services and eventually into communications strategy. Along the way, she saw a...

Amy Ginger joins ChangeMakers with Katie Goar for a grounded conversation on what works in affordable housing and what slows progress. Drawing on more than 25 years across HUD, local government, and national leadership, Amy explains why Housing Choice Vouchers matter, why utilization dropped after the pandemic, and what housing authorities do every day to keep people housed. Amy shares practical l...

Affordable housing is no longer a coastal issue or a niche policy topic. It touches every community, every income bracket, and every generation. In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar speaks with Dennis Shea, Executive Director of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, about why housing affordability has shifted from a “silent crisis” to a national priority. Dennis shares how gr...

Episode 136: Laura Archuleta, President and CEO, Jamboree Housing Corporation On this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, we meet Laura Archuleta, President and CEO of Jamboree Housing Corporation, one of California’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developers serving more than 20,000 residents statewide. Laura shares how her mother’s experience growing up in public housing and her own f...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, we meet Neil Brickfield, Executive Director of the Pinellas County Housing Authority in Florida.  Neil shares how his journey from running the Police Athletic League to leading one of the state’s largest housing authorities shaped his mission to serve families and seniors with dignity and stability. He and Katie discuss the challenges of building af...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, we meet Scott Bader, President of the Door County Housing Partnership.  With more than 40 years in real estate, Scott shares how he shifted from selling vacation homes in Wisconsin’s “Cape Cod of the Midwest” to leading efforts that create permanent affordable housing for the local workforce. Scott explains how the community land trust model works,...

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,...

Greta J. Harris, President and CEO of the Better Housing Coalition, joins Katie Goar on ChangeMakers to discuss how Richmond’s largest nonprofit housing developer is tackling the affordable housing crisis head-on. In this conversation, Greta shares the Coalition’s mission to create safe and affordable communities, while helping residents achieve upward mobility. She explains Richmond’s economic ch...

In this episode of ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Gavin Naples, Senior Vice President of the Homeless Veterans Program at the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Gavin shares how the foundation, born from the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller on September 11, has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted nonprofits, providing over 2,000 mortgage-free homes and now tackling veteran homele...

This week on ChangeMakers, Katie Goar sits down with Lauren Taylor Dreher, founder and managing partner of Bear Impact Fund, for a powerful conversation about transforming the affordable housing landscape. Lauren shares how her early days cleaning out foreclosures evolved into a career blending real estate operations, private capital, and nonprofit partnerships. She opens up about her pivot into a...

In this episode of ChangeMakers with Katie Goar, we’re joined by Rob Fredericks, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.  Rob shares his three-decade journey from cleaning up construction sites to leading one of California’s most respected affordable housing agencies. He breaks down how his team is reimagining what affordable housing can look like—blending beauty, functionality,...

ChangeMaker Yvonda A. Bean, CEO of the Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA), joins Katie Goar to share her transformative journey as a national leader in affordable housing.  With 25 years of experience turning around crisis-stricken housing authorities, Bean reveals her core philosophy: investing holistically in people—residents, staff, and community partners—is foundational to success. She discusse...

Join Katie Goar on Changemakers for an inspiring conversation with Janine Betsey, Director of Tax Credit Operations at the Gene B. Glick Company.  Janine shares her deeply personal journey into affordable housing—from growing up in a Glick property to leading strategies that preserve and revitalize communities across 13 states.   Discover how Glick’s innovative "rapid rehab" model transforms aging...