8/7/2006 - Surveys conducted around Maine indicate that approximately 78% of Maine tenants would choose to live in a smoke-free complex and that only 21% of the adult population smokes. “Our mission is to reduce the number of residents in multi-unit housing who are exposed to secondhand smoke,” says Tina Pettingill, Chair of the Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine, “and the primary way to do this is to ask landlords around Portland and Maine to institute smoke-free policies within their properties. It’s what tenants want; it saves landlords money in cleaning costs and property insurance and their fire risk goes down significantly. It’s a win-win situation.”

The City of Portland will collaborate with the Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine and other public health organizations to advocate for an increase in the number of smoke-free housing units available in Portland. The resolution is intended to support Portland landlords and tenants in establishing their living spaces as smoke-free. One such organization working on this issue is Portland Housing Authority. Mark B. Adelson, Deputy Executive Director for the Portland Housing Authority said, "The safety and health of our residents are major priorities for us. In the 2006 and 2007, Portland Housing Authority will make someinitialchanges in the way be do business that recognize the importance of this public health issue, includingthedesignation of portions of our properties as smoke-free."

In the wake of the US Surgeon General’s report stating that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, the resolution is timely for many private & public landlords as well as tenants.

City Council member Karen Geraghty introduced the resolution saying, “Landlords need to know that having a smoke-free policy in place is legal and justified and that this is one measure they can take to protect the health of their tenants.”

Background:

The Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine is comprised of public health advocates, tenants, landlords, property managers, environmental health professionals, and many others who share a vision for Maine where all citizens can live free from exposure to secondhand smoke. Our mission, through education, advocacy and policy change is to reduce the number of residents living in multi-unit housing who are involuntarily exposed to secondhand smoke. The Smoke-Free Housing Coalition has recently unveiled a new online registry where landlords and apartment managers can advertise their smoke-free apartments at no cost. The registry, which can be accessed by clicking here allows landlords to register their apartment information and then activate the listing when vacancies are available.

Coalition members provide free assistance to landlords who want to make policy change within their buildings and are working with many public and private landlords in Portland to achieve this. To learn more about smoke-free housing policies and how to implement them, visit the Smoke-free Housing Coalition of Maine’s website www.smokefreeforme.og or call 874.8449.

A resolution to reduce the number of Portland residents in multi-unit housing exposed to secondhand smoke.