Community resolution centers seek stable funding, say mediations cut downstream public costs

Representatives of community dispute-resolution centers and Resolution Oregon told the Senate Judiciary Committee that mediation and other alternative dispute-resolution services reduce court caseloads and stabilize housing outcomes. "We estimate that mediations conducted by community centers in these 8 counties helped avoid approximately $10,000,000 to $26,000,000 in downstream public costs in that single year," Patrick Sponsler, administrator of Resolution Oregon, told the committee.