Tenant Education Event happening in Jackson on Thursday, April 4

Local renters looking to get informed on tenant rights and responsibilities have an upcoming opportunity. The City of Jackson is partnering with University of Michigan students on a Tenant Education Event that's happening Thursday, April 4.

Taking place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center from 4-6 p.m., senior U of M nursing students will present information about tenant rights, how housing affects health, elements of quality housing, and how to take care of your residence. Nursing students organized the event to reach renters for a tenant-centered approach to housing. Jackson was selected by the nursing students as a location for this education due to its high population of renters.

According to the latest U.S. Census numbers, 45.3% of the City of Jackson's population lives in rental housing. That percentage is higher than other Michigan cities with similar-sized populations. With thousands of residents renting, City Manager Jonathan Greene says this will be a valuable event to attend. "The majority of the City's outreach efforts are directed at landlords, so it's important that we also empower tenants to know their rights and advocate for their living conditions," Greene said.

The event is free to attend. The MLK Recreation Center is located at 1107 Adrian St. An online survey is available for participants to submit input before the meeting so organizers can get an idea of what topics tenants would like covered.