Clean Air for All, a collaboration between NAHRO, Live Smoke Free, and NAR-SAAH, hosted a webinar about smoke-free requirements for public housing yesterday. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) smoke-free rule went into effect on July 30, 2018 and requires that all buildings funded by public housing prohibit smoking in units, in indoor common spaces, and within 25 feet of buildings.

Throughout the webinar, Clean Air for All emphasized the importance of fostering communication between housing authorities and residents. The presenters demonstrated how several specific tools might help agencies to both comply with the rule and improve health outcomes. Example strategies for housing staff included engaging with residents about smoke-free policies formally and informally, using conflict resolution methods, and providing materials for quitting smoking. They demonstrated that enforcing the rule is an opportunity to support residents’ health goals. Finally, initial results from an ongoing NAR-SAAH resident survey highlight that successful compliance with smoke-free policies requires resident participation and buy-in.

For more information about smoke-free public housing, visit the Clean Air for All website here.