News
Boston to Ban Smoking in Public Housing in 2012
BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle addresses residents at a public forum on the smoke free policy organized by HRiA in July 2010.
December 18, 2010
An early adopter of workplace and restaurant smoking restrictions, the city of Boston is again in the vanguard with a scheduled ban on smoking in public housing.
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is adopting the policy in 2012 which will prohibit smoking inside public housing units and common areas. HRiA, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission and the Committee for Boston Public Housing, among others, is providing the technical assistance necessary for a smooth transition.
Children growing up in multi-unit housing, including those in units where there is no smoking in their household, have a higher level of exposure to tobacco than children living in single family homes. This is because smoke is able to travel between adjoining units where tenants do smoke.
"No matter how careful a parent you are, you will not be able to protect your child against tobacco smoke exposure if you live in multi-unit housing that isn't smoke-free," pediatrician Jonathan Winikoff explained in a recent Boston Globe article.
Survey work done by the BHA with support from HRiA indicates a high demand for smoke-free buildings.
"Our approach has been holistic," says Kathleen McCabe, assistant director of the Public Health Policy Center at HRiA. "Work to promote smoke-free housing is being done in all types of housing - not just public - with the end goal of a greater supply of smoke-free units in the city."
While the ban will address common health issues associated with secondhand smoke, including asthma, respiratory and ear infections, it will also solve an administrative issue the BHA has struggled with.
For the past several years, an increasing number of families have been seeking new units because of drifting smoke. Under current policy, however, the BHA cannot guarantee that a new unit will be free of secondhand smoke.
"As we eliminated secondhand smoke in public establishments and the workplace, people now see much more clearly the problem of being exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes," said McCabe. "In addition to working with Boston residents, we are also educating landlords about the connection between secondhand smoke and asthma. We have demonstrated to landlords that they can save money on turnover costs by keeping their units smoke-free."
HRiA is working with community coalitions and BHA residents to prepare for the transition. Information on smoking cessation opportunities, including the Massachusetts Smokers' Helpline (1-800-QUIT-NOW), are being provided free of charge to all BHA residents by the Boston Public Health Commission.
The ban is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will prohibit smoking inside any BHA building, including individual units.
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is adopting the policy in 2012 which will prohibit smoking inside public housing units and common areas. HRiA, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission and the Committee for Boston Public Housing, among others, is providing the technical assistance necessary for a smooth transition.
Children growing up in multi-unit housing, including those in units where there is no smoking in their household, have a higher level of exposure to tobacco than children living in single family homes. This is because smoke is able to travel between adjoining units where tenants do smoke.
"No matter how careful a parent you are, you will not be able to protect your child against tobacco smoke exposure if you live in multi-unit housing that isn't smoke-free," pediatrician Jonathan Winikoff explained in a recent Boston Globe article.
Survey work done by the BHA with support from HRiA indicates a high demand for smoke-free buildings.
"Our approach has been holistic," says Kathleen McCabe, assistant director of the Public Health Policy Center at HRiA. "Work to promote smoke-free housing is being done in all types of housing - not just public - with the end goal of a greater supply of smoke-free units in the city."
While the ban will address common health issues associated with secondhand smoke, including asthma, respiratory and ear infections, it will also solve an administrative issue the BHA has struggled with.
For the past several years, an increasing number of families have been seeking new units because of drifting smoke. Under current policy, however, the BHA cannot guarantee that a new unit will be free of secondhand smoke.
"As we eliminated secondhand smoke in public establishments and the workplace, people now see much more clearly the problem of being exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes," said McCabe. "In addition to working with Boston residents, we are also educating landlords about the connection between secondhand smoke and asthma. We have demonstrated to landlords that they can save money on turnover costs by keeping their units smoke-free."
HRiA is working with community coalitions and BHA residents to prepare for the transition. Information on smoking cessation opportunities, including the Massachusetts Smokers' Helpline (1-800-QUIT-NOW), are being provided free of charge to all BHA residents by the Boston Public Health Commission.
The ban is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will prohibit smoking inside any BHA building, including individual units.
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