Elisa Harrigan

Former staff

She / They
elisa [at] mmt.org


Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. Thirty-five years of racist housing policy. Until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole.
Ta-Nehisi Coates

Elisa is incredibly passionate about building a strong and equitable affordable housing industry that is accessible to all Oregonians. Elisa is innovative, takes strategic risks, and aims for smart, well-managed investments and partnerships. 

Elisa came to Meyer because she shares the values and mission of the organization. Elisa believes in the unique role for Meyer as it strives to move the needle toward a just and equitable Oregon.

“I wish to live in a world where everyone has the opportunity to be their best self and have access to peace, acceptance, joy and love. At Meyer, I use my skills as a community organizer, local/state/federal policy analyst and an activist for anti-poverty and rental housing issues to help Meyer advance the goals of the Affordable Housing Initiative, Housing Portfolio and organization equity vision.”

Prior to joining Meyer, Elisa was the executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT), Oregon’s only grassroots tenant-led organization. Elisa is a member of the Class V - Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Latino Leadership Program. Elisa was named “Best Low Income Tenant Advocate” by the Willamette Week in 2009. Elisa has volunteered for several years for the MRG Foundation.

Elisa joined Meyer in 2014.