http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/publications/notices/09/pih2009-21.pdf
Purpose. This notice strongly encourages Public Housing Authorities (PHAs)
to implement
non-smoking policies in some or all of their public housing units. According
to the American
Lung Association, cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable
disease in the
United States. The elderly and young populations, as well as people with
chronic illnesses, are
especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of smoking. This concern was
recently addressed by
the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, P.L. 111-31, signed
by the President
on June 22, 2009. Because Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) can migrate
between units in
multifamily housing, causing respiratory illness, heart disease, cancer, and
other adverse health
effects in neighboring families, the Department is encouraging PHAs to adopt
non-smoking
policies. By reducing the public health risks associated with tobacco use,
this notice will enhance
the effectiveness of the Department's efforts to provide increased public
health protection for
residents of public housing. Smoking is also an important source of fires
and fire-related deaths
and injuries. Currently, there is no Departmental guidance on smoking in
public housing.
