Implementing a multifamily smoke-free policy is recommended by HUD so the Grace Hill training tip of the week focuses on helpful ways to do this in your property.
All public housing agencies must have a multifamily smoke-free policy in place by July 31, 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule based on a rule passed in late 2016.
HUD had allowed time for implementation of the smoke-free policy and this rule now applies to all public housing except dwelling units in mixed-finance buildings.
While the rule applies to public housing agencies, HUD strongly encourages all multifamily housing owners and agents to implement smoke-free policies in all their properties.
Recap of the HUD multifamily smoke-free policy
Here’s a recap of the rule and helpful resources about implementing a multifamily smoke-free policy.
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- The rule says that each public housing agency must implement a smoke-free policy banning the use of prohibited tobacco products in all living units, indoor common areas, administrative office buildings, and outdoor areas within 25 feet of any building on public housing grounds.
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- Note that the rule does not prohibit residents of PHAs from smoking.
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- Public housing agencies can establish outdoor designated smoking areas beyond the required 25 feet perimeter to accommodate residents who smoke.
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- Agencies may also establish additional smoke-free locations, or they can even make their entire grounds smoke-free.
While this rule applies to public housing (except dwelling units in mixed-finance buildings), the materials that HUD has assembled to help agencies comply with this rule may be very helpful to any community that is thinking about, or in some stage of implementing, a smoke-free policy.
More rental properties adopting smoke-free policies
More and more rental properties across the country are adopting smoke-free policies with the goal of improving air quality, reducing the risk of fire, and lowering maintenance costs.
If you are one of those properties, here are some great resources HUD has put together to help public housing agencies implement multifamily smoke-free policies that may also be helpful to you:
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- Review all your resources when setting up your smoke-free policy
Implementing HUD’s Smoke-Free Policy in Public Housing includes strategies for communicating with residents, examples of smoke-free policies and enforcement plans, tips for training staff, helpful information for launching a smoke-free policy, and guidance on responding to requests for accommodation.
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- Smoke-Free Housing: A Toolkit for Owners/Management Agents of Federally Assisted Public and Multi-family Housing provides fact sheets, brochures, and other resources to help guide PHAs and multifamily owners and property managers through the process of implementing smoke-free policies.
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- Change is in the Air: An Action Guide for Establishing Smoke-Free Public Housing and Multifamily Properties among other things addresses how PHAs have approached smoke-free policies for residents with disabilities.
There is more available on the Healthy Homes section of HUD’s website. Take some time to look around – there’s lots of good stuff out there!
Resources:
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About the author:
Ellen Clark is the Director of Assessment at Grace Hill. Her work has spanned the entire learner lifecycle, from elementary school through professional education. She spent over 10 years working with K12 Inc.’s network of online charter schools – measuring learning, developing learning improvement plans using evidence-based strategies, and conducting learning studies. Later, at Kaplan Inc., she worked in the vocational education and job training divisions, improving online, blended and face-to-face training programs, and working directly with business leadership and trainers to improve learner outcomes and job performance. Ellen lives and works in Maryland, where she was born and raised.
About Grace Hill
For nearly two decades, Grace Hill has been developing best-in-class online training courseware and administration solely for the Property Management Industry, designed to help people, teams and companies improve performance and reduce risk.
