Learn the basics of off-campus living this month

Off Campus Living is here to be a resource and an advocate for students living off campus. We are here to help you learn about the basics of renting, your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and creating a community. We also point you to important links on safety, commuting, and getting to know the Bellingham area. We like to think of ourselves as your one stop shop for all your adulting needs.

We know that living off campus can make creating connections or community difficult, so we want to let you know of some events we are hosting this Winter Quarter that may be able to remedy that.

• On February  there will be a Fair Housing Webinar that will inform you on all there is to know about your rights as a tenant.
• On February 10 at 4 p.m. in the Miller Hall Collaborative Space the Fast Friends event will occur. It will be a fun and lively event designed to help students meet new people and make friends! All are welcome to come and start their community at Western! You can RSVP on WIN.
• Renting and Ramen will occur on February 12. It will be divided into two sessions, with only a small capacity in person and the rest online. It will provide everything you need to know about living off campus plus a Ramen goodie bag and refreshments.
• Roommate Speed Date will occur virtually on February 16th and in person on February 17th. It will provide an opportunity to come and meet other folks looking for a roomie, eat snacks, and win prizes!
• The Housing Fair on March 3 will provide an opportunity for students to meet landlords and property managers, find out how to apply for rentals, get an idea of the costs and the locations of housing and meet utility service companies and local tenant support service organizations. Students will have the opportunity to ask them any questions they might have about finding a place, signing a lease, renters' rights or anything they need to know about adulting!

If you want to be kept up to date on more events like this around Western and Bellingham, follow us on Instagram @wwu_offcampusliving, like us on Facebook, or stay connected by joining the OCL discord at the following link: https://discord.gg/pgEKuyHBb6. We also post about adulting tips and resources available to students, among other things. You can also check out our website, offcampusliving.wwu.edu, to get an overview of what to expect—and what is expected of you—as an official Bellingham resident. Also on our website is a link to housing listings and a Ready Set Rent course to learn all you need to know about signing a lease, your rights and responsibilities as a renter, and how to find a safe and comfortable place to live.