More than one-third of adult public housing residents in the US smoke—totaling approximately 400,000 smokers, putting other residents and staff at risk of negative health effects.
Housing and health systems need to work together. Public housing authorities (PHAs) are significant providers of housing to those in need, offering the health sector scale and expertise. Little was known about how PHAs worked with the health sector writ large.
Housing may influence health through various mechanisms and is
recognized as a social determinant of health. This study investigated the influence of rental assistance on modifiable health risk factors and behaviors using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics.
In this article, we explore current law concerning residential smoking regulations and consider whether the implementation of a nationwide ban on smoking in public housing would be desirable.
This fact sheet describes how a landlord may legally prohibit smoking in common spaces and individual units, and explains how to implement a smokefree policy in compliance with the rent control law, where applicable.
This report is intended to help public health advocates and policymakers formulate input into the QAP process, with the objective of developing healthier homes.