BY BRENT ADDLEMAN
NEW CASTLE NEWS
Residents of federally funded housing units are no longer permitted to smoke indoors.
A Housing and Urban Development rule went into effect Monday that bans smoking in the units.
The Lawrence County Housing Authority put the ban in effect more than a month ago.
Gene DiGennaro, executive director of the housing authority, said the organization implemented the initiative after conducting a survey of residents and expanding on its current smoking regulations.
“The last 10 years we have had no smoking in common areas, stairs, and elevators,” DiGennaro said. “Now, smoking is banned in rooms.”
The local housing authority put the smoking ban in place on July 1.
Under the ban lit tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, and water pipes are not to be consumed in all living units, indoor common areas, and administrative offices. Smoking is permitted outdoors and has to be 25 feet from the structure.
DiGennaro said in 2017 the housing authority conducted a survey to get residents’ thoughts, and said results were “50/50 as to whether they liked (the ban) or not.”
The survey results showed that 46 percent of residents smokes in their units while 39 percent did not smoke and did not allow guests to smoke. Fourteen percent said they did not smoke but allowed others to smoke.
As for secondhand smoke, 21 percent of residents said they could smell it, and four percent said they could not. Seven percent said the smoke bothered them and made them ill.
HUD issued the ban due to the dangers of secondhand smoke and to protect residents from the dangers by implementing a smokefree housing rule.
“Secondhand smoke is a serious health threat, and can linger in rooms and even travel between homes in multi-unit housing,” said American Lung Association chief mission officer Deborah P. Brown. “A move to smokefree public housing will protect the health of millions of people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
“There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This is especially true for children and those who are more vulnerable to the impact of second smoke, such as those living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and we’re proud to assist in the implementation of smokefree policies and help smokers quit, when they’re ready.”
DiGennaro said the housing authority provided smoking cessation seminars conducted by Northwest Tobacco Control program in Mercer County, which gave presentations on quitting smoking and offered nicotine patches and gum to the residents.
“We will try and work with people,” DiGennaro said.
“If we see they can’t handle (not smoking in the units), we will suggest they call the Northwest Tobacco Control. They can smoke outside, as long as it is 25 feet from the buildings.”
DiGennaro said implement the ban was “a little easier for us” because of the no smoking ban in common rooms which was already in place.
There are 12 sites in New Castle and Ellwood City affected by the ban, including Lawrence Manor, McGrath Manor, Skyview Towers, Harbor Heights, West Grant Street, Brinton Hill, Sciota Street, Big Run, Lincoln Terrace, Neshannock Village, Crescent Place and Walnut Ridge.
Residents who do not adhere to the ban will receive verbal and written warnings, which also could be considered a lease violation.
baddleman@ncnewsonline.com
NEW CASTLE NEWS
Residents of federally funded housing units are no longer permitted to smoke indoors.
A Housing and Urban Development rule went into effect Monday that bans smoking in the units.
The Lawrence County Housing Authority put the ban in effect more than a month ago.
Gene DiGennaro, executive director of the housing authority, said the organization implemented the initiative after conducting a survey of residents and expanding on its current smoking regulations.
“The last 10 years we have had no smoking in common areas, stairs, and elevators,” DiGennaro said. “Now, smoking is banned in rooms.”
The local housing authority put the smoking ban in place on July 1.
Under the ban lit tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, and water pipes are not to be consumed in all living units, indoor common areas, and administrative offices. Smoking is permitted outdoors and has to be 25 feet from the structure.
DiGennaro said in 2017 the housing authority conducted a survey to get residents’ thoughts, and said results were “50/50 as to whether they liked (the ban) or not.”
The survey results showed that 46 percent of residents smokes in their units while 39 percent did not smoke and did not allow guests to smoke. Fourteen percent said they did not smoke but allowed others to smoke.
As for secondhand smoke, 21 percent of residents said they could smell it, and four percent said they could not. Seven percent said the smoke bothered them and made them ill.
HUD issued the ban due to the dangers of secondhand smoke and to protect residents from the dangers by implementing a smokefree housing rule.
“Secondhand smoke is a serious health threat, and can linger in rooms and even travel between homes in multi-unit housing,” said American Lung Association chief mission officer Deborah P. Brown. “A move to smokefree public housing will protect the health of millions of people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
“There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This is especially true for children and those who are more vulnerable to the impact of second smoke, such as those living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and we’re proud to assist in the implementation of smokefree policies and help smokers quit, when they’re ready.”
DiGennaro said the housing authority provided smoking cessation seminars conducted by Northwest Tobacco Control program in Mercer County, which gave presentations on quitting smoking and offered nicotine patches and gum to the residents.
“We will try and work with people,” DiGennaro said.
“If we see they can’t handle (not smoking in the units), we will suggest they call the Northwest Tobacco Control. They can smoke outside, as long as it is 25 feet from the buildings.”
DiGennaro said implement the ban was “a little easier for us” because of the no smoking ban in common rooms which was already in place.
There are 12 sites in New Castle and Ellwood City affected by the ban, including Lawrence Manor, McGrath Manor, Skyview Towers, Harbor Heights, West Grant Street, Brinton Hill, Sciota Street, Big Run, Lincoln Terrace, Neshannock Village, Crescent Place and Walnut Ridge.
Residents who do not adhere to the ban will receive verbal and written warnings, which also could be considered a lease violation.
baddleman@ncnewsonline.com
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