Smoke-Free Policy in Public Housing

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

On July 1, 2013, the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles adopted a smoke-free policy for its 63 public housing developments. The policy protects families, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Through a systemized process of outreach activities, educational support, surveys, advocacy, collaboration, and campaigns, the policy was approved. As of July 1, 2013, current residents and new move-ins had the option to sign a “Non-Smoking Lease Agreement Addendum.” The Housing Authority provided residents with a one-year transition period while providing smoke free education and resources to residents. During the one-year transition phase over 80% of public housing residents opted to sign an addendum to their lease pledging their unit as smoke free before the mandatory implementation deadline of July 1, 2014. During the policy development phase, and the one-year transition phase, our public housing residents have broadly supported this smoke-free policy. Currently, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health was funded to conduct an evaluation of our smoke-free policy using public housing residents and HACoLA property managers as a study-group. This two-year evaluation will track the policy related changes in health behaviors, knowledge and attitudes, and secondhand smoke exposure.