Hacienda CDC urges board to approve tax exemption to support 55‑unit affordable housing project

Representatives of Hacienda CDC told the Lake Oswego School District board Tuesday they support the district approving a tax exemption requested for a proposed 55‑unit affordable housing development and described the organization’s services to school‑age residents.

Erica Hernandez, director of youth and family services at Hacienda CDC, said the organization provides long‑term resident services including a full‑time community liaison, youth development and after‑school programming. “We served over 943 school‑aged youth” in the most recent program year, she told the board, and said the tax exemption previously discussed to support the project is “essential” to securing affordability and on‑site services.

Ernesto Fonseca, identified in the meeting as Hacienda CDC’s chief executive officer, said a tax exemption from the district would leverage “about $1,200,000” toward the project and cited the financial complexity of stacking three to 12 financing sources for affordable developments. He said the exemption would materially affect unit amenities such as air conditioning and would support resident services that the developer anticipates delivering to families in the building.

Both Hernandez and Fonseca emphasized the organization’s track record, with Fonseca citing a 99 percent graduation rate for participants in a high‑school support program in other districts. They urged the board to consider the exemption as a tool to secure long‑term affordability and wraparound services for families with children.

The remarks occurred during the meeting’s public comment period; the transcript records prior written testimony submitted “in support of tax exemption request” by Hacienda CDC but no vote on that exemption during the session recorded in the transcript.