Feds plan smoking ban in public housing

Public comment will be accepted for 60 days. A citywide ban would require spreading the ban to all 23 complexes citywide, and spark a few pushback, based on reactions of tenants interviewed Thursday at four HANH developments. “It will be an enforcement nightmare, at least in terms of the first few years on behalf of the housing authority to deal with it”.

The transition in Paragould has been met with little resistance, agency Assistant Executive Director Polly Fisk said Thursday.

A few Housing Authorities across the nation are already making the switch. But of course, public housing is a little different from your average apartment tower.

Garza says it would save the housing authority money.

“I use the e-cigarettes in the afternoons trying to get used to not smoking”, said Garza. Where do I get one of those Guy Fawkes masks? “I think it works well. We are in the United States, so if they want to smoke – that’s their choice”, Rizer said.

“It’s tricky”, said Ethan Handelman, vice president for policy and advocacy with the National Housing Conference.

But the restriction on smoking inside dwellings would pose challenges to overburdened public housing agencies, which could face resistance from a few residents resentful of losing control of what they can do in their own homes. “Here, it’s worked for us”. Under the HUD rule, they couldn’t do that. Under a pilot program supported by NYCHA, 85 percent of 159 apartments signed a pledge to “keeping my house smoke-free”.

“There cost are actually lowered because turning over an apartment that has been heavily smoked in cost about $3,000 more than an apartment that hasn’t been smoked in”, said Garza.

There are several benefits to adapting this new law, according to HUD. Those statistics include all fires and buildings, not just public housing. “It’s harmful, and we believe it’s important that we have an environment that’s healthy in public housing”.

“It helps those of us who enjoy the outdoors”.

The proposed rule would impact the more than 940,000 units where smoking is allowed. Ferris exclaimed. On the other hand, she endorsed a ban on smoking on the grounds and the parking lot, where she sat in the vehicle waiting for her brother.

If the rule is approved, what is now a privilege now reserved for numerous city’s wealthiest tenants – rules that prevent smoking anywhere in a building – would be forced upon its poorest.

George said she understood banning smoking in common areas and hallways, but that instituting a ban in people’s apartments didn’t make sense.

Those arguments have yet to lead to any court order striking down the bans.

“Almost half of the households in public housing are either seniors or persons with disabilities. As we review HUD’s proposed new rule, we want to ensure it puts residents first”. That has thrust public housing employees into the middle of disputes over secondhand smoke.

“That’s insane. What’s the point of paying your rent if you can’t smoke!” “Its very unsafe”, Rivera said.

Officials expect to receive suggestions on how to deal with potential violators during the 60-day public comment period for the proposal.

She said that while she doesn’t tolerate smoking around her kid, “in the common areas there should be definite designated areas” for smokers. In 2005, only 32 housing authorities in the nation had the bans. “All it’s going to do is increase homelessness”.

Smoking violations would be classified as nuisance infractions, which are not supposed to result in eviction.

While many public housing buildings are already smoke-free, this policy may go national.

More than 400,000 New Yorkers live in public housing.

Cigarette smoking kills 480,000 Americans each year and is the leading preventable cause of death in the USA, according to the CDC.