For the second time in as many months, Washington is clamping down on tobacco use through policy change.  On the heels of giving the FDA regulatory power over tobacco products, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued memo PIH-2009-21 (HA) titled “Non-Smoking Policies in Public Housing,” last Friday.

The memo “strongly encourages” Public Housing Authorities (PHA’s) to apply non-smoking policies to some or all of its public housing units.  HUD sites the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke as the reason to establish or increase such policy.  Because secondhand smoke can seep from one unit into another, it can cause respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer and other negative effects in neighboring families.

The memo does not mandate such change, however it does state “PHAs are permitted and strongly encouraged to implement a non-smoking policy at their discretion, subject to state and local law.” PHA’s across the country have already begun to place restrictions on smoking in their properties.  The policies differ from one area to another. Some PHAs have designated certain buildings within their complexes to be smoke free. Others allow current residents who smoke to continue to do so, but only in designated areas, and only until lease renewal or a date established by the PHA. Some PHAs are prohibiting smoking for new residents. According to the Smoke-Free Environment Law Project of the Center for Social Gerontology, there are over 112 PHAs and housing commissions across the country that have implemented nonsmoking policies. According to that same group, many other housing commissions around the country have wanted to go smoke-free for some time, but were waiting for HUD to explicitly say it was OK and a good idea.  The memo from HUD provides that approval.

“At this time, such policies in New Hampshire are inadequate or non-existent in the state’s Public Housing complexes,” said Marie Mulroy, Tobacco Program Manager for Breathe New Hampshire.  “That is why we (Breathe New Hampshire) are starting a dialogue about the legality and economic advantages for landlords at both public and private multi-family complexes to begin to offer some form of a smoke free option for their residents.”

Breathe New Hampshire, the statewide non-profit organization that focuses on lung health (breathing issues), is sponsoring a forum next month to discuss this topic.  “From a strict business sense, it is logical to adopt a smoke-free policy.  Unit turnover costs are increased when apartments are vacated by smokers. Additional paint to cover smoke stains, cleaning of the ducts, replacing stained window blinds, or replacing carpets that have been damaged by cigarettes all increase the cost of making a unit occupant ready,” said Mulroy.  “We want to begin a conversation about the fact that it is perfectly legal for both public and private multi-family units and/or complexes to have some sort of smoke-free policy.” The cost of rehabbing units that smokers have lived in may range from an extra $500 up to $6,000 depending on the circumstances.  Plus, Mulroy points out “non-smoking policies are a way of preventing fires caused by cigarettes.  In other words, non-smoking policies are good for health and finances.” The forum is scheduled for August 20 in Keene. 

Mulroy says this is just one of the policy issues the non-profit will be championing over the coming year.  Breathe New Hampshire regularly advocates for policy changes, both voluntary and public, that insure better air quality and in turn, better breathing for New Hampshire’s residents.

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