A Case for Smoke-Free Housing

The Asthma Regional Council of New England undertook a national analysis of existing and emerging Smokefree Housing policies. The purpose of this effort and the ensuing policy paper has been to

• outline the complex issue of Secondhand Smoke (SHS) in multiunit housing;
• assess attitudes, advantages, legality and costs involved in adoption of Smokefree Housing policies;
• compile and present voluntary and regulatory model policies developed by state agencies, city councils, and property owners/managers;
• compile and present considerations for implementation by property owners/managers; and
• share survey results and available resources such as web links, sample surveys, and sample leases.

This paper presents a wealth of information for policy makers, public health professionals, and healthy homes or tobacco control advocates to learn about what other states across the country are currently doing to adopt Smokefree Housing policies in multi-unit housing. While Smokefree Housing is a relatively new arena, 17 U.S. states, and 46 public housing authorities, have already begun to undertake and promote this effort through voluntary and regulatory policies. There is a great deal to learn from these experiences. For purposes of this paper, we refer to what is frequently referred to as “Environmental Tobacco Smoke” (ETS) or “Side Stream Smoke” as Secondhand Smoke (SHS). (September 2007)