The rule prohibits the use of tobacco products in public housing living units, indoor common areas, in administrative office buildings, all outdoor areas up to 25 feet from the public housing and administrative office buildings. NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- By July 31, all government subsidized housing across the United States must implement a no smoking policy, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The rule prohibits the use of tobacco products in public housing living units, indoor common areas, and in administrative office buildings. The policy also extends to all outdoor areas up to 25 feet from the public housing and administrative office buildings. Robert Sutton has smoked for the past 30 years, and he said he doesn’t think the policy is feasible. “People are used to smoking,” said Sutton. “They’re used to smoking in their apartment, they’re used to smoking outside… it’s going to be hard, very hard to stop smoking.” According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing authorities will save up to $38 million dollars a year in reduced maintenance and reduce the fire risk by $38 million dollars. According to a Center for Disease Control 2014 study, the no smoking policy will save about $497 million dollars a year in healthcare and housing-related costs. Resident Bernardine Wilson said the policy is a good idea and most importantly, prioritizes children.<doc-sep>NEW YORK -- Smoking is no longer allowed in New York City public housing.NYCHA and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene officials launched the new smoke-free policy Monday morning.The rule prohibits smoking in any New York City public housing apartment or building or within 25 feet of the building.The city says it wants to create a healthier environment for the 400,000 New Yorkers who live in public housing developments.NYCHA says it's meeting a federal deadline that requires all public housing nationwide to go smoke-free by this week. "When we first learned of the new HUD rule requiring public housing to go smoke-free, we knew it was critical to engage our residents on the smoke-free conversation and what this will mean for their homes and public health overall in NYCHA communities," said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff in a written statement. "As a public housing landlord, we are required to implement a smoke-free policy, but we will continue to talk to residents and work with our partners - like the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - to support programs city-wide that reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and expand access to resources for residents who want to quit smoking. "Approximately 18 months ago, HUD's proposed smoke-free rule required the more than 3,100 public housing agencies nationwide to implement smoke-free policies in their developments by July 30, 2018. Also, in accordance with HUD guidelines, all NYCHA families received notice of planned lease changes in January 2018 and a lease addendum in spring 2018.The new rule allows NYCHA staff and residents to report violations; enforcement will include an informal conversation to discuss the smoking ban along with the provision of educational materials. NYCHA's goal is to not terminate tenancy but to provide information and expand access to resources should residents want to quit smoking.As part of the new Smoke-Free NYCHA policy, smoking cessation materials and palm cards are being made available to any resident seeking help thanks to NYCHA's partnership with DOHMH, NYC Smoke-Free and other partners.For more information, visit NYC.gov/nycha For resources on quitting smoking, visit NYCQuits ----------<doc-sep>
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) implemented a nationwide ban on smoking inside or near public housing facilities into effect on Tuesday. Under the terms of the ban, which was passed by the Obama administration in 2016, the use of cigarettes, cigars and pipes is prohibited in all government subsidized housing units. Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have not been banned but may be in the future. The ban also prohibits smoking in areas up to 25 feet away from public housing units and administrative office buildings, according to a brochure from the department. “Eliminating smoking indoors and close to buildings is the only way to fully protect people from secondhand smoke,” the department states in the release. ADVERTISEMENT “In addition to protecting residents and employees from secondhand smoke, smoke-free policies create healthy environments that encourage people who smoke to quit or attempt to reduce smoking,” the department continued. According to the release, smoking in any area where it is not allowed will be treated as a “lease violation.” Tenants could also face eviction after several smoking violations. HUD notes that people "do not have to quit smoking" to live in government housing, but need to follow the new ban. Prior to the ban’s enactment, roughly 228,000 public housing units were already smoke-free, CBS News reported. The new ban is expected to eliminate smoking in over 940,000 more units. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimated in 2014 that the new ban is expected yield $153 million per year in savings for government housing agencies in health-care costs and repairs.