Portland City Council Approves Mediation Pilot Program for Eviction Cases

Portland’s city council approved funding last Wednesday for a pilot program to divert some eviction cases to mediation. The City would pay for the mediator and provide rental assistance in some cases. The council awarded a $150-thousand contract to Resolutions Northwest to offer free mediation services for landlords and tenants in disputes that might typically lead to evictions. It’s expected that between 70 and 100 mediations will take place at the cost of roughly $1,500 to $2,100 each.