Archived NEWS Articles

Guelph-area health unit recommends smoke-free public housing
(December 1, 2015)
(GuelphMercury.com, Guelph) Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is recommending a policy that bans smoking in social housing. In a report entitled "Second-hand Tobacco Smoke in Multi-Unit Dwelling of Social Housing," medical officer of health and chief executive Nicola Mercer outlines the well-known health risks of second-hand smoke. Read more here.

HUD Secretary Castro Announces New Rule Making Public Housing Smoke-free
(November 12, 2015)
(HUD.gov, Washington) Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro joined Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in Alexandria, VA to announce a proposed rule to make the nation's public housing properties entirely smoke-free. Read more here.

Renfrew County Housing Corporation adopts smoke-free policy
(October 29, 2015)
(InsideOttawaValley.com) Renfrew County Housing Corporation has adopted a smoke-free policy for its approximately 1,000 units in Renfrew County. Read more here.

Smoke-free policy in low-income housing showing positive results
(June 24, 2015)
(Waterloo Region Record) Five years after Waterloo Region imposed a smoking ban in its affordable housing, fewer tenants smoke indoors and some are even smoking less. "It's nice to see that it is actually making changes," said Stephanie Ellens-Clark, a public health planner with the region. "We're feeling pretty positive about it." Read more here.

Activists fight to clear smoke from Queens (NYC) apartment buildings
(January 5, 2015)
(TimesLedger) Hilltop Village in Holliswood has about 500 smoke-free apartments.  And for Phil Konigsberg, a smoke-free advocate, that's the closest one can get to heaven on earth.  Read more here.

Couple refuses to let condo go up in cigarette smoke
(December 19, 2014)
(CBC.ca) A couple in St. John's with a baby on the way are concerned about second-hand cigarette smoke seeping into their condominium. Read more here.

National and State Cost Savings Associated With Prohibiting Smoking in Subsidized and Public Housing in the United States
(October 2014)
(Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy) Despite progress in implementing smoke-free laws in indoor public places and workplaces, millions of Americans remain exposed to second-hand smoke at home.  The nation's 80 million multiunit housing residents, including the nearly 7 million who live in subsidized or public housing, are especially susceptible to second-hand smoke infiltration between units.  Read more here.

Research supports case for smoke-free buildings
(September 8, 2014)
(Globe & Mail) Apartment dwellers who don't smoke still can't escape secondhand smoke completely, but in smoke-free buildings, expose to the tiny particples in cigarette smoke may be cut by half or more, according to a new study.  Read more here.

Smoke-free condos on the rise in BC
(June 2, 2014)
(CBC.ca, Vancouver) Smoke-free Housing B.C. has been pushing for a ban on smoking in buildings for 10 years, but advocates say the concept is starting to take off with more than 100 apartment buildings now entirely smoke-free. Less than 15 per cent of B.C. residents smoke, but nearly half live in close quarters in condos and apartment buildings. Read more here.

A non-smoker's cry
(June 2, 2014)
(Toronto Star) Letter to the editor. Now I lay me down to sleep, Praying I could just breathe deep, But as my bedroom fills with smoke, Each inhalation makes me choke! I've tried to seal up all the cracks, To stop the smoke in its tracks, Closed the windows, sealed the door, Now the smoke comes through the floor..." Read more here.

Court rules against condo with smoking cigar
(June 2, 2014)
(Toronto Star) A May 12, 2014 judgment of the Ontario Superior Court found favorably for a condo owner on the receiving end of drifting smoke. Read more here.

Change is in the Air! Over 100 Ontario Social Housing Providers Going Smoke-Free
(May 29, 2014)
(Ottawa) In celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, 2014, the Non-Smokers' Rights Association would like to recognize and commend the 102 social housing providers from across the province that have adopted no-smoking policies. Read more here.

New video featuring second-hand smoke expert Jim Repace
(April 30, 2014)
(YouTube) Internationally-renowned second-hand smoke expert Jim Repace has posted a half hour video on YouTube where he describes the problem of smoke infiltration in multi-unit housing, explains the dangers of exposure to SHS and talks about how various American jurisdictions are responding to this emerging public health issue. Watch the video on YouTube.

Massachusetts moving to stamp out smoking in public housing citing health, safety concerns
(April 7, 2014)
(The Republic, Boston) Governor Deval Patrick's administration moved Thursday to stamp out smoking in public housing in Massachusetts. The Department of Housing and Community Development issued guidelines to all 240 local housing authorities urging them to develop smoke-free policies for their state-aided public housing units. Read more here.