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Montana Tobacco Free Housing

What is the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program Smokefree Rent-restricted, Multi-unit Housing Project?

The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) has received a two-year ARRA Grant to help accelerate and expand its efforts to promote comprehensive smokefree policies among Montana public housing authorities and other federal, state, and local rent-restricted, multi-unit housing facilities. Such policies support MTUPP’s mission to improve the health of community members and address the number one cause of preventable disease and death - tobacco use.  This project will help achieve MTUPP’s goals of reducing secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in the home among vulnerable, at-risk Montanans, including children and seniors.

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke is a Public Health Problem

Secondhand smoke – the smoke that comes from a lighted tobacco product or from a person who is smoking tobacco – contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Of these chemicals, 11 are known cancer-causing poisons and 250 are known toxins. The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, concluded that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke, and the only way to protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke is to eliminate the smoke exposure.

A minimum of 38,000 and up to 65,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. as a result of diseases caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. Thousands of other people in the U.S. suffer from conditions caused by or made worse by secondhand smoke.

As many as 175 Montanans die annually from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

Why Create Smokefree Public Housing?

Statewide surveys reveal that many vulnerable, low-income Montana citizens, including children and seniors, continue to be exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke in their homes. Thirty percent of Montana housing is renter occupied and 26% of Montana housing stock is multi-unit housing (American Community Survey, 2006-2008). The 2008 and 2009 Montana Adult Tobacco Survey found that fewer than one-in-five respondents who live in multi-unit housing (approximately 9,000 or 19%) are protected by a smokefree policy set by their landlord.  More than one-third (36%) of those respondents have children 17 years or younger living with them.  Of Montana multi-unit renters who do not have a smokefree policy in their building or complex, the majority (85%) are in favor of their landlord adopting a smokefree policy.

What Assistance is Available?

The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program is offering individualized assistance to Housing Authorities, rent-restricted, multi-unit housing owners and managers and local decision-making bodies to adopt smokefree policy.  The Project Coordinator will work with key personnel throughout the process of developing and implementing campus-wide smokefree policies or to strengthening existing policies. Materials, telephone support, and site visits are available at no cost to the facility. The Project Consultant is able to assist in the following ways:

  • Provide information to local Housing Authorities and rent-restricted, multi-unit housing owners and managers, local decision-making bodies and community stakeholders to help initiate the process of policy creation or revision.
  • Assist with policy formation or revision and the development of an implementation plan.
  • Supply sample communication materials and media.
  • Identify signage needs and provide free signs for the campus.
  • Offer strategies to enhance compliance and support for the new policy.
  • Provide educational tools and materials that can be used for tenant education.
  • Provide information about and coordination with the MTUPP Cessation Program

Educational Materials

The following educational materials can be downloaded to provide additional information.

On July 17, 2009 The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a policy memo strongly encourages Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to implement non-smoking policies in some or all of their public housing units and addresses:

  • dangers of secondhand smoke exposure
  • fire-related risks associated with smoking
  • improving indoor air quality inside public housing, with minimal costs
  • decreasing maintenance and turnover costs associated with smoking-permitted units

HUD's September, 2009 newsletter contains encouraging information for PHAs who are interested in smokefree buildings.

HUD issued a follow-up notice on September 15, 2010, to clarify HUD's July 17, 2009 policy memo on creating smokefree housing policies. HUD's September 15, 2010 policy memo outlines new requirements when implementing smokefree policies for HUD housing.

For More Information or Assistance, Contact:

Elizabeth Andrews                                                    
Project Consultant
Telephone: 406-459-1377
Email: eandrews@mrss.com

Alison Reidmohr                                                   
Health Educator
Telephone: 406-444-7896
Email: areidmohr@mt.gov

Page last updated 02/06/2012