Track 1 - Public Health Law and Policy
Sharing Session - 30 Minutes
D15 - Bridging the Clean Air Gap: The Federal Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule
Wednesday, July 11
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Regent
On February 2, 2017, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a rule requiring public housing authorities (PHAs) to adopt smoke-free policies. The rule is expected to be fully implemented by July 30, 2018, and will require more than 3,000 PHAs across the country to restrict smoking in all indoor areas and within 25 feet of buildings. This rule will directly address disparities in the burden of tobacco use. These PHAs serve more than 2 million low-income residents, including 760,000 children. Low-income populations suffer higher rates of asthma and disproportionately bear the burden of the tobacco epidemic. Additionally, more public housing residents have a disability or identify as African American or Hispanic—groups that also suffer from tobacco-related disparities. Public health workers who work with PHAs have the opportunity to build on the HUD rule by encouraging PHAs to adopt policies that go further to protect public health. Many PHAs have already done so. Since 2009, more than 600 PHAs have adopted some form of smoke-free policy. This session will discuss the contents of the final rule; the impact on PHAs, local health departments, and others; opportunities for state and local governments, health departments, and properties interested in smoke-free policy options more protective of public health; and best practices for developing, adopting, implementing, and enforcing smoke-free policies.
Keywords
Tobacco, Health Equity, Public Health Laws & Policies
