January 2016
The ATS submitted comments in support of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) proposed rule to make all federally owned multi-unit public housing smoking free. While HUD currently encourages public housing units to be smoke free, the proposed policy would make the smoke-free policy mandatory for all federally owned multi-unit public housing.
While the ATS supports HUDs proposal, the ATS comments included a number of recommendation to improve the implementation of HUD's smoke-free policy. Ensuring that access to affordable and effective smoking cessation is available to public housing residence, including e-cigarettes and hookahs, making playgrounds smoke-free, and conducting research on optimal smoke-free implementation programs were the key messages included in the ATS comments.
HUD is expected to issue final rules in the coming months.
