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Smoke-Free Housing Initiative in BC: A Comprehensive Approach for Better Health

This initiative in British Columbia aims to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in multiple unit dwellings, educate housing providers about legal aspects, and promote voluntary smoke-free policies. By focusing on building relationships, gathering data, developing resources, and educating others, the program seeks to raise awareness, lobby for policy guidelines, and tap into untapped markets for smoke-free housing. With partnerships with key organizations, data collection efforts, and educational workshops, the initiative aims to create healthier living environments and promote smoke-free policies among residents and housing providers.

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Smoke-Free Housing Initiative in BC: A Comprehensive Approach for Better Health

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  1. The BC Experience October, 2007

  2. Approach in BC • Reduce exposure for residents in MUDs • Educate Housing Providers – it’s legal • Increase VOLUNTARY smoke-free policies • Toxicity of the smoke – not the person who smokes Stay under the media radar

  3. What have we done? • Develop Relationships & Partnership • Be Informed: Gather Data • Be Prepared: Develop Resources • Educated Others • Recommended Policy Guidelines • Identified Opportunities • Sought Funding

  4. Develop Relationships • Key players - advice and challenges • Focused on non-profit housing association (BCNPHA) • Partnered with BCNPHA to educate members across province

  5. Partners

  6. Other partners • NSRA • CCTC • Canadian Smoke-free Housing Coalition

  7. Gather Data • Collect relevant demographics • Identify business case • Identify extent of problem • Identify smoke-free places • 60% households rent in some areas • 86% of BCers are smoke-free • Untapped market • Reduced cleaning costs • Fewer complaints • 30% of all renters have experienced SHS in BC • Global Agencies • Envy – Condo • Westin / Marriott Hotels

  8. Develop Resources • Fact Sheets • Legal precedents & arbitration successes • Legality of smoke-free policies health, economics, ventilation

  9. Clean Air Coalition of BC website www.cleanaircoalitionbc.com

  10. Educated Others • Workshops - public/private housing • Industry forums & conventions • Presentations at BCNPHA annual • Distributed educational letters through partner’s distribution systems • Prepared articles

  11. Educate & Raise Awareness • Assisted residents with SHS problems • Lobbied Greater Vancouver Housing Corporation • Requested intervener status in human rights tribunal case

  12. Lobby for Policy Guidelines • Lobbied Residential Tenancy Branch to enhance their Policy Guideline on ‘Quiet Enjoyment’ (e.g. Noise) • Wrote Minister of Housing

  13. Opportunities • Landlords and the legal authority • Perception smoking is legal – SHS nuisance • Belief that the home is the castle

  14. Opportunities • Grandfathering clauses • Economic argument • Resources – money and time • Learn from lessons in the past

  15. National Website www.smokefreehousing.ca

  16. Next steps in BC • Received funding to implement Smoke-free Housing – aged 19 to 29

  17. Next steps in BC Primary Components include (con’t) • Smoke-Free Housing Pilot Project • Recruit Participants • Develop Strategic Plan for implementing Smoke-Free Policy • Implement Smoke-Free Policy • Track Progress and Lessons Learned • Community Forums • Develop workshops • Recruit participants from housing industry • Implement forums • Identify partnership opportunities • Identify interested participants for Pilot Project

  18. Next steps in BC • Received funding to implement Smoke-free Housing – aged 19 to 29 • Maine video

  19. Contact • Sharon Hammond (sharonhammond@telus.net) • Jack Boomer (jackboomer@shaw.ca)

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