Formative research to support the transition of multi-unit rental housing to smoke-free
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1
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Community Health and Prevention, United States of America
2
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Health, Behavior and Society, United States of America
3
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, United States of America
4
Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, United States of America
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A465
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ABSTRACT
Background:
Rented homes house
37% of US households, and 65% of those
are multi-unit, translating into >60 million Americans who rely on housing
policies to protect their health from environmental exposures, including
secondhand smoke (SHS) incursion from adjoining units. As tobacco
addiction becomes concentrated among low income, ethnic and racial minority,
chronically ill, and other vulnerable populations, who are more likely to
reside in multi-unit housing (MUH), controlling MUH SHS is a key tobacco control
disparities priority. Although the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and many municipalities
promote policies to increase the proportion of MUH that is smoke-free, less is
known about how to support landlords with smaller portfolios serving low-income
tenants.
Methods:
In Philadelphia, which has both the highest tobacco use
and poverty rates of the 10 largest US cities, we conducted an online needs
assessment survey in 2017 of members of the City's largest landlord
association. Survey items measured current smoke-free portfolio, attitudes and
experiences with tenants' tobacco use, and knowledge of Philadelphia's 2016
mandatory smoking disclosure law for MUH leases. Respondents were also offered
technical assistance on transitioning to, or maintaining smoke-free
rentals.
Results:
Of 226 respondents, 67% were unfamiliar with Philadelphia's disclosure ordinance, 40% allowed
smoking in all or some units, and only 3% believed it was illegal to prohibit
smoking in leases, but 34% were unsure, and only 61% knew it was legal. Respondents reported large (41%) or some
(40%) demand for smoke-free properties, and most recognized benefits, including
lower costs, inter-resident tension, and health risks. Drawbacks included resources required to
transition properties and for enforcement. Over half of landlords with and
without current smoke-free portfolios requested technical assistance.
Conclusions:
Results suggest
that MUH initiatives such as disclosure ordinances could be enhanced by
technical assistance to increase landlord adoption of smoke-free MUH.