TULSA, OKLA. –[April 15, 2024] – Whether you are a landlord or a renter, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities. The Tulsa Health Department is excited to once again partner with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma to offer Housing 101 on April 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Regional Health and Wellness Center, 5635 M.L.K. Jr Blvd. The workshop is free to attend but in-person space is limited to the first 150 who register. A virtual option to attend is also available.
Attendees will learn the minimum safety standards for housing, including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, safe heating sources, occupancy limitations and more. Legal Aid of Oklahoma will speak about the Landlord Tenant Act and Fair Housing.
“Housing codes and regulations can be confusing,” said Kendra Wise, THD environmental health services manager. Our goal is to empower residents with the knowledge they need to ensure that their homes are safe and healthy environments. By understanding housing codes and regulations, individuals can take proactive steps to address any issues and make necessary improvements to their living spaces.”
The workshop will include information about the International Property Maintenance Code, Oklahoma Residential Landlord-Tenant Law and the Fair Housing Act which protects against discrimination. Everyone with an interest in housing regulations is invited to attend, including apartment managers, leasing agents, landlords and renters. The event will include a Q&A session with representatives from THD and Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.
April is National Fair Housing Month. More than fifty years ago, the Fair Housing Act was signed into law for every community to be a place where people can live in strong, diverse neighborhoods with access to affordable homes, healthy food, good jobs, quality schools, green space, and other elements that help create health and wellbeing for all. Despite some progress, segregation from opportunity and unequal access to quality, affordable housing persists today.
THD collaborates with many local partners to address health equity issues and the social determinants of health. These determinants of health include the conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
“We believe that everyone deserves to live in a place that promotes well-being and we are here to support our community in achieving that no matter where they live in Tulsa,” said Wise. “Another way we address that with through our Community Health Improvement Plan.”
The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is a collaboration of THD and partners across the Tulsa area working to better health outcomes in three priority areas informed by the Community Health Needs Assessment and prioritized by community partners. The 2023-2028 CHIP focuses on Stress and Mental Health, Chronic Disease Risk Factors and Management, and Safe and Affordable Housing. This group meets quarterly; and welcomes new partners and engaged residents to participate. The next meeting is on Tuesday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. at the Tulsa Health Department’s North Regional Health & Wellness Center.
For more information or to register for the Housing 101 workshop, please call 918-595-4200 or email EHSD@tulsa-health.org.
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