Non-Regulatory Approaches to Advance Smoke-Free

Housing

Margaret Reid

Boston Public Health Commission

5/29/2014

Boston’s Approach

• Multi-level campaign launched in 2010 ending October 2012 – re-launched in Spring 2014

• Mix of incentives, systems changes and awareness building– Promote non-regulatory sfh in Boston multi-family

housing across the income spectrum– Target resources to housing for low and moderate

income residents– Offer smoking cessation resources for staff and

residents

Why Voluntary?– 2009 Massachusetts survey revealed high

tenant demand, low availability and landlord confusion regarding legality

– Board of Health was implementing a number of regulatory tobacco policies

– Smoke free housing was a new concept, with many misconceptions

• ‘Regulating low income residents’

Build into existing systems

– Strong recommendation in all notice of grant awards for affordable housing development

– First time home buyer classes– Boston Home Center– Section 8 landlord trainings

Technical Assistance and Training

• To ensure successful transitions– Boston Housing Authority– 6 nonprofit community development

corporations through competitive process– Section 8 landlords who own small

properties through Section 8 administrators

Raise Awareness• Large public awareness campaign and

earned media involving Mayor• Targeted to housers• Smoke Free Housing Registry and website

Facilitators

• BHA took on highly visible role helped to move forward

• Boston BRFSS data showing health and health behaviors by housing type

• Strong leadership by Mayor • History of working with housers on

environmental health• Excellent public insurance cessation benefit

and nicotine patch give away.

Current Activities• Providing training and TA to 7 housers with 4,400

units.• Transitioned registry to Boston’s Office of

Fair Housing and Equity which maintains rental housing listings.

• Participating in CDC dissemination plan for smoke free housing video.

• Potential for smoke-free check box in Boston’s required rental registry.

Funding Support

• DHHS/CDC Communities Putting Prevention to Work, Tobacco Prevention Initiative

• HUD Healthy Homes Demonstration grant

• Boston Tobacco Prevention and Control Program