Allegheny County Housing Authority Introduces Smoke-Free Units

The Allegheny County Housing Authority, along with the Allegheny County Health Department, announced that they will embrace the Live Well Allegheny campaign by designating five of its sites as smoke-free sites.

Beginning this past Wednesday, October 1, 2014, 330 units within the housing stock of the Housing Authority have been designated as non-smoking.

“The Housing Authority’s mission is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for families and individuals in Allegheny County, and to change the traditional face of public housing,” said Frank Aggazio, Executive Director of the Allegheny County Housing Authority.

The County also hopes to keep the housing units in better condition through the smoke-free policies. In the past twelve years, ”careless smoking” in the units has caused three fires with damages exceeding $1 million dollars. The Authority has also determined that it costs twice as much to clean and paint a smokers unit versus a non-smoker’s unit when it is vacated.

The Live Well Allegheny campaign is aimed at improving the health and well-being of county residents, with an ultimate goal of having a healthier county. Working along with Tobacco Free Allegheny, the campaign is encouraging property owners and managers to implement a smoke-free policy.

“While the number of smokers in Allegheny County remains higher than average, we also know that 70 percent of those who smoke, want to quit and this policy can help with that goal,” Aggazio said.

In Allegheny County, 23% of those over the age of 18 are smokers and, of those, more than 40% of smokers make less than $15,000 annually. In addition, 35% of African Americans are smokers, compared to 22% of whites.

“It’s a positive first step, and I hope that other housing communities in the County follow the example of the Housing Authority,” said Dr. Karen A. Hacker, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. “Having the investment and commitment of the Housing Authority as part of that coordinated effort allows us to address obesity prevention and physical activity through this smoke-free policy.”

The impact of smoke-free policies in housing is even greater than just reducing smoking. Exposure to second hand smoke is a known contributor to excessive morbidity and mortality. For non-smoking adults, second hand smoke is known to increase the risk for cardiovascular events and cancer. Children are also impacted; second hand smoke is a significant contributor to asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, bronchitis, and otitis media.

Tobacco Free Allegheny has online resources available for property owners and managers that may be considering following suit, including information on “How to Implement a Smoke Free Policy” and information specific to Property Managers and Landlords.