How 1 in 3 unsheltered people found homes

Commissioner Gonzalez Pushing to End City-County Joint Office

In an interview as part of his campaign for mayor, Commissioner Rene Gonzalez pledges to push for more funding for Portland from the city-county’s Joint Office of Homeless Services — or end the city’s partnership with the county. Gonzalez failed to expand the Portland Street Response program under his watch, and has asked the joint office to fund it. [KGW]

Snowpack at Normal

Good news: The Oregon mountains have an average amount of snow for late March. Scientists track the snowpack as one indicator of water levels needed for summer farming, ranching, and fire season. In early January, the snowpack was far below normal levels but is now at 100% across most of the state. The exception is Northeast Oregon, where the snowpack is 83% of normal. [OPB]

A Look Inside the Largest Outdoor Shelter

This longer read on the city’s first and largest outdoor shelter highlights the complexities of helping people who have been living on Portland streets. About one in three people who have gone through Clinton Triangle, the city’s first and largest outdoor shelter, have moved into housing, were referred to drug treatment, or reconnected with family. Those successes came with an infusion of state money aimed at getting people into housing. But some who’ve gone through the Clinton Triangle’s pods, since they opened last July, are already back on the streets. [Willamette Week]

Plea Deals for Murder

On the Friday news round-up, some are complaining that Oregon law robs murder victims and their families of justice. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

House-Stealing Scammers, Zenith Energy’s Undisclosed Lobbying, and Murder Plea Deals

Some are saying an Oregon law is robbing murder victims and their families of justice. The City Auditor’s office is calling out fossil fuel company Zenith Energy for violating city code. And a new scam allows fraudulent deeds and house transaction sales to go through the county assessor’s office. Oregonian court reporter Zane Sparling rounds up the week’s news with City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni.