In advance of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s smoke-free housing rule requiring all public housing to be smoke-free by July 31, 2018, the American Lung Association in Missouri, with support from the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, will offer free smoking-cessation support for residents of public housing.
Through the Smoking Cessation for Low-Income Housing Residents initiative, the Lung Association will work with public housing agencies and other local partners to provide access to proven-effective tobacco cessation services such as Freedom From Smoking, a program that offers options for people to engage in person, online or on a mobile app.
“While we applaud the new smoke-free policy to protect the thousands of Missouri’s public housing residents from secondhand smoke, we also understand that quitting smoking can be difficult for those residents that smoke,” said Plesetta Clayton, the director of Tobacco Control and Lung Health for the American Lung Association, Upper Midwest Region.
“We are proud to partner with the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation to provide access to free quit-smoking counseling and support – which is key to helping individuals overcome smoking addiction.”
In support of the upcoming smoke-free housing policy, Cheryl Lovell, executive director of the St. Louis Housing Authority, told The American the agency has held town hall meetings, placed advertisements in two local newspapers, held a public hearing on November 30 at its headquarters, and placed notices for a public hearing at its developments, central office and website (www.slha.org).
Lovell said the American Lung Association (ALA) has been an integral part of the planning process for implementing the smoke-free policy and for engaging and educating residents about smoking cessation through literature, free programs and other resources. In September and October, ALA provided educational resources for household management classes held at James House, and recruited participants for Freedom from Smoke training designed specifically for public housing developments, she said. Additionally, information on environmental hazards and smoking cessation was distributed at the tenant affairs board meeting for the Kingsbury development.
“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and more than 70 percent of smokers want to quit but just don’t know how to start that process,” said Jay Moore, M.D., chief medical officer, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “We are proud to team with the American Lung Association to offer quit smoking guidance and support, and support our Missouri’s lung health and help prevent tobacco-related illnesses.”
Smoking in public housing after July 2018 can jeopardize tenant leases.
Lovell said the St. Louis Housing Authority will enforce the policy by adding a no-smoking provisions to the lease agreement.
Lovell said, “The policy states that a violation of the policy is a serious lease violation which may be cause for lease enforcement action up to and including termination of the lease.”
Missouri residents living in subsidized housing who are interested in these services can call the American Lung Association in Missouri office at 314-645-5505.
