Mercy Housing asks Lake Oswego board to consider property-tax exemption to sustain Mercy Scholars program

Joe Thompson, president of Mercy Housing Northwest, introduced Mercy Greenbrae — the organization's first Oregon property on the former Merrill Hearst College campus — and described its resident services and Mercy Scholars program aimed at improving youth outcomes.

"There is an opportunity for property tax exemption... that would essentially reduce an expense ... of about $70,000 each year," Thompson told the board, framing the exemption as a way to preserve on-site services and reinvest savings into resident programs. He emphasized Mercy's resident-services model and its track record operating 54 affordable communities that serve roughly 6,000 people nightly across the Pacific Northwest.

Mercy staff described challenges and progress at the Lake Oswego site, noting early staff turnover hindered outreach and student enrollment tracking. Anne Walters Cook, Mercy Greenbrae's youth initiatives and school liaison, said the property now documents attendance more consistently; when the property first opened staff could not locate where 28 students were enrolled and are now tracking down to five who remain unlocated. Mercy'staff said they now have a case manager, resident services coordinator and resident services manager on site and that the current staffing level is robust compared with Mercy's other properties.

Board members pressed on sustainability of current staffing levels and whether the $70,000 would be a recurring subsidy or fill existing costs. Mercy stated the funds would cover current site costs rather than represent new program additions. Directors expressed gratitude for Mercy's partnership and discussed how school volunteers and existing district programs might support student engagement.