Smoke-free Public Housing: Helping Smokers Quit

About the Initiative

The American Cancer Society Cancer Control Intervention group, Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at UCSF, and the North American Quitline Consortium are collaborating with PHAs, state quitlines, and community health centers (CHCs) to help residents in public housing quit smoking for good. This collaboration, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will start as a pilot program in 6 communities to help all interested residents get support to quit smoking.

A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule will require all public housing agencies (PHAs) to implement a smoke-free policy by July 30, 2018. This rule prohibits the use of tobacco products in all residential units, indoor common areas, administrative offices, and all outdoor areas within 25 feet of public housing and administrative buildings (e-cigarette use is subject to each PHA’s discretion). Enforcement of this rule is also left to each PHA’s discretion, but residents could ultimately be evicted if they don’t comply with this rule. Since approximately 34% of adults living in public housing smoke cigarettes, the rule provides an important public health opportunity to increase access to tobacco cessation services.

This initiative will leverage the HUD rule and strengthen partnerships among residents, clinicians, PHAs, and other related organizations, including behavioral health and legal aid groups, to increase health equity. This initiative will help improve access to cessation support and opportunities to contribute to the overall health, well-being, and equity of PHA communities.  For more information, contact Becky Slemons or Jessica Safier.