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Our community partners working toward the goal of smoke-free housing have taken many actions to ensure that more citizens of Louisville are able to enjoy a tobacco-free community.
Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA)
LMHA and Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) collaborated to conduct a preliminary survey with LMHA residents to help determine their smoking status and level of support for a smoke-free housing policy. 61.7% of all respondents stated they were in support of a smoke-free policy and would prefer to live in a smoke-free home.
11 residents, representing all LMHA communities and Somali Bantu residents, were identified to serve as outreach workers for the Smoke-Free Multi-Family Housing Initiative from June through September 2013. They served as liaisons between residents and grant partners, and helped promote smoke-free housing.
LMHA also surveyed the 450 members of the Louisville Apartment Association; the results were used to help shape the toolkit materials developed for private landlords.*****
Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society researched the Kentucky and Jefferson County laws governing the activities of landlords who want to have smoke-free multi-family housing. They developed a legal memorandum for the adoption of smoke-free housing policies, to assist landlords in implementing these policies. They also helped develop a sample lease addendum for landlords.
Kentucky Cancer Program
The Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP) has been responsible for the smoking cessation piece of the project. A cancer control specialist was identified to be responsible for planning, coordinating, and preparing Cooper Clayton Smoking Cessation (CCSC) facilitator trainings. KCP has identified potential CCSC facilitators for classes in targeted communities or areas of high smoking rates and conducting many facilitator trainings at various locations, including Sullivan University College of Pharmacy, Fairington Apartments, and Louisville Free Public LIbrary-Crescent Hill Branch. KPC also distributed CCSC information at Healthy Hometown meetings and conferences.
Common Myths and Facts about Smoke-Free Housing
Myth #1: If I implement a smoke-free policy, I will lose money.
Fact: Not only have there been documented maintenance savings resulting from reduced wear and tear on units, there are considerable savings on cleaning and repainting costs. There is also no research that indicates renters are less likely to rent units in non-smoking properties.
Myth #2: A smoke-free policy will alienate residents.
Fact: Surveys conducted across the country document a preference by a majority of renters to live in smoke-free housing.
Myth #3: Enforcing a smoke-free policy will be too difficult.
Fact: Enforcing a smoke-free policy is a lot less of a headache than mediating disputes between smokers and non-smokers without a policy in place.
From: Common Myths and Facts, found here.
Reduce tobacco use, smoking, and second-hand smoke exposure in Louisville residents.
Grow the demand for and availability of smoke-free multi-family residential housing.
Increase the availability of smoking cessation.
goals
Smoke-Free Housing