Residents report increased secondhand smoke exposure during pandemic

“As Americans continue to spend more time than ever before at home due to COVID-19, some residents of apartments, condominiums, and other types of multi-unit housing report that they are experiencing an increase in secondhand smoke exposure. As both non-smokers and smokers alike are home more frequently, and people are facing the health risks and stressors related to the pandemic, concerns around secondhand smoke exposure at home continue to rise.” …

Smoke-Free Housing Recommendations During COVID19

Smoke-Free Housing Recommendations During COVID-19 presents recommendations from Live Smoke Free for property owners, managers, and homeowners, including recommendations specific to public housing. With more residents staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is important for property owners, managers, and renters to promote healthy indoor environments. Smoking can compromise the immune system, and smoking, vaping, and exposure to secondhand smoke may cause lung inflammation. These factors increase residents’…

Smokefree Housing with Mental Health America (video)

Produced by the American Lung Association in partnership with Mental Health America of Kentucky, this is a three-minute video discussion of the correlation between mental illness and smoking, the HUD smoke free housing rule, and the effect of secondhand smoke on all residents, as well as how they supported communities in Kentucky.

Webinar shared lessons learned from implementing smoke-free public housing

Nearly 60 public health professionals and public housing administrators/property managers participated in the April 10, 2019 webinar presented by Building Success. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health summarized key findings from the experiences of more than 150 public housing authorities nationwide that have adopted and implemented smoke-free policies. Discussion included useful, practical guidance and support for the implementation of smoke-free housing policies.

2019 Global Directory of Smoke-Free Multi-Housing Programs

Building Success and more than 100 other programs are compiled in the updated 2019 Global Directory of Smoke-free Multi-Housing Programs. Organizations are listed by country and region/state. The Guide is produced by Live Smoke Free, a program of the Association for Nonsmokers-Minneapolis (www.mnsmokefreehousing.org).

Challenges to implementing nationwide ban on smoking in public housing

Negative responses by public housing residents to HUD’s new smoking ban are attracting media attention across the country. Residents forced to smoke more than 25 feet from a HUD property say they feel shamed and unsafe. Many also report not having been consulted on how to implement the ban. A resident quoted in an article published by Pew’s Stateside says she believes that “this isn’t about protecting nonsmokers. This is…