Think Out Loud

Earlier this month, individuals and families had just five days to apply for a housing rental assistance program funded by the federal government that serves Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties. Eligibility is based on income limits and other requirements, with vouchers awarded through a lottery system to only about 1 out of every 4 applicants. Demand for the vouchers grew by more than a third since 2023, but obstacles still remain for those lucky enough to obtain one.  Reporter David Dudley wrote about the Housing Choice Voucher program after moving to Bend eight weeks ago to work on “Homelessness: Real Stories, Real Solutions.” The series was launched last month by the nonprofit media organization FORJournalism. Dudley joins us to talk about his recent reporting and work on the series, which aims to dispel misconceptions about homelessness in Central Oregon.

The city of Portland changed its zoning rules in 2020 with the goal of producing duplexes, cottage clusters and other multi-unit housing in areas traditionally zoned for single-family homes. The idea was to provide more options at more affordable price points for the city’s growing population. A new report shows the initiative is largely working. It says more middle housing units are now being built than single-family homes, and those units are selling for $250,000 to $300,000 less than a new, market-rate detached house. Morgan Tracy is a senior planner in Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. He joins us with more of the report’s key findings. 

When Oregon wildland firefighter Kevin Conley heard about the wildfires in Los Angeles, he wanted to do something to help. Conley is currently riding his bike from Astoria to Northern California to raise money for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which provides financial and mental health resources to those fighting the fires. We’ll talk with Conley about his ride and the importance of mental health services for firefighters.

Lidia Yuknavitch, celebrated Oregon writer known for novels like Thrust and memoirs such as The Chronology of Water, delves into the impact of trauma on identity. She discusses how reframing personal narratives can liberate us from emotional burdens while exploring themes of love, loss, and healing through storytelling. Lidia also introduces the concept of 'femascular' to challenge gender norms, emphasizes the evolution of language in narratives, and reflects on the collaborative nature of adapting her life stories into film.

The MusicOregon Echo Fund provides funding to musicians to support career development, allowing artists to fund non-performance projects like recording in a studio or filming a music video.  BendretheGiant, a Portland-based ensemble, has been working on recording music with help from the fund. The group’s new EP, "Wading In The Deep End" will be released on March 7. BendreTheGiant is also headed on tour with stops in Oregon, California and Washington. The group will play in Eugene at John Henry’s on Feb. 13 and at Alberta Street Pub in Portland on March 1st. They join us for an in-studio performance.  

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson campaigned on ending unsheltered homelessness in the city. He recently released a detailed “blueprint” for achieving that goal, adding thousands of shelter beds in the coming year. The city is also facing a $100 million budget shortfall. Wilson joins us to share his thoughts on the budget crunch, the details of the expanded shelter capacity, and how he's thinking about the rights and wellbeing of city residents in light of recent executive orders from the president.

Lester Griffin launched The Foundation nearly two years ago in response to his own experiences with the criminal justice system and the support he wished he had as a youth growing up in Vancouver. The nonprofit provides resources for at-risk teens and young adults such as job development skills, mentorship and community service opportunities. It also helps adults recently released from incarceration by providing them free boxes of food, hygiene supplies and access to a team of navigators with lived experience to support their reentry into society.   The Columbian previously wrote about The Foundation and, more recently, about Griffin’s efforts to open a transitional housing complex in Vancouver in the coming weeks for people released from prison. The Restored Transitional Complex will have 14 beds, a communal living area and aims to provide stable housing for occupants for up to a year. Griffin joins us to share more details, along with Ajay Harnage, a formerly incarcerated individual who hopes to move into the new facility. 

 Insurers across the country are leaving high-risk areas that are affected by disasters like wildfires. Some Oregonians are experiencing insurance rate increases and are struggling with a shifting insurance market. In Deschutes County, homeowners in fire-prone areas are facing higher insurance premiums, according to The Source Weekly.  And residents in Southern Oregon are seeing similar issues. Earlier this month, Democratic Senator Jeff Golden of Ashland held a town hall in Medford. He spoke with frustrated residents who were concerned about the state’s final wildfire hazard map, according to NBC5 News. Oregon law prohibits insurers from using the map to adjust rates. Mitigating risks through fire-wise communities and creating defensible space are some of the ways residents can show insurers they are taking action.  We hear more about these concerns from Golden and Andrew Stolfi, the state’s insurance commissioner and the director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business services.    1/31 Insurers across the country are leaving high-risk areas that are affected by disasters like wildfires. Some Oregonians are experiencing insurance rate increases and are struggling with a shifting insurance market. We learn more about the challenges residents are facing in fire-prone areas.

Amy Tan might be best known for her fiction, including "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Kitchen God’s Wife," but her latest book takes its drama from her backyard bird feeder. In 2019, Tan began drawing birds she saw in nature, particularly the ones who visited her tree-filled backyard in Northern California. The result is a book of reflections, observations, detailed drawings and cartoon sketches called "The Backyard Bird Chronicles." Tan talks to us in front of an audience of students at Franklin High School.

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries is facing a massive backlog of wage theft complaints. According to its annual report, the agency saw a 208% increase in wage claims from 2020 to 2024. In response, the agency implemented an income threshold for investigations, meaning investigators are not following up on any claims from workers who make more than $25.34 an hour. BOLI officials say the agency’s staffing hasn’t kept up with the growth of Oregon’s workforce, and they are asking lawmakers to fund more than 70 new positions. Christina Stephenson is the state labor commissioner. She joins us with more details on the agency’s nearly $18 million budget request.