190: Andrew DeFranza, Executive Director of Harborlight Homes

Barriers to affordable housing often look procedural: tackling zoning, securing funding, and facing opposition.

Andrew DeFranza believes the affordability crisis sits much deeper. It begins with who communities think should be allowed to live there.

This week on Design Development, Andrew joins Rens to discuss how Harborlight Homes treats housing as more than a physical building. The nonprofit develops and operates affordable communities across the North Shore, then connects residents with services tailored to their needs – from seniors and families to formerly homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and young adults aging out of foster care.

Andrew’s conviction comes from years spent working directly with people facing housing instability. He began his career working in homeless shelters and direct-service casework, where he saw firsthand how the lack of stable housing magnifies challenges involving health, education, employment, and long-term security. Those experiences eventually led him from helping individuals one at a time to building organizations capable of supporting entire communities.

Andrew and Rens dive deep into an exploration of the forces limiting housing production across Massachusetts, the history behind exclusionary land-use policies, and why changing the rules may not be enough if the assumptions behind them remain the same.

Today’s episode offers a candid look at what affordable housing requires beyond funding and development – and what must change for more people to find a stable place within their community.

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