Amid neighborhood opposition, poliical powerhouse Mercy Culture withdraws application to build shelter for human trafficking survivors

Every Sunday, more than 1,000 Mercy Culture congregants flood into the Oakhurst area. The sprawling campus, dominated by large white buildings, attracts people from across Fort Worth. Primarily a place of worship, the church wants another use for its property — sheltering survivors of sex trafficking. After launching the church with her husband in April 2019, Mercy Culture Pastor Heather Schott started a nonprofit called The Justice Reform in 2020 with the goal of ending sex trafficking in the region. Last October, the organization hosted its inaugural Justice Run, a music festival and charity race aimed at raising funds to support survivors. Organizers pressed ahead on plans to create a three-story, 100 bed restoration home until neighbors, who question the safety and legitimacy of the project, mounted a strong opposition against the shelter. Developers for the project were expected to present it in front of the zoning commission April 13. City staff previously recommended denial of the project, arguing the land is not suitable for the use requested and that the restoration home is not consistent with the area’s comprehensive plan.

As opposition from neighbors continued to grow, The Justice Reform withdrew its application April 8 to the zoning commission. The organization would like additional time to speak with residents and gather information before finalizing the project, said Cameron Ehn, the civil engineer on the project. Chanin Scanlon, president of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association, suspects Justice Reform leaders are regrouping before pushing forward with their plans. Her group will continue to fight the project, Scanlon said, and plans to attend the April 13 meeting to ensure there will be opposition if the case is discussed. The project was still listed on the meeting’s agenda as of Friday. “One of the council members recently kind of warned somebody about that and said, ‘Until a decision has been made, you need to be here,’” Scanlon said. “I think they’re just trying to regroup and try to say face and then continue to do it,” Scanlon said. “We’ll just continue to fight.”