Background

The project was created in response to a growing demand for smoke-free housing As Californians become more and more accustomed to breathing clean air at work and in public places, the home for some has become the only place where they are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. In some apartments and condos, up to 65 percent of the air inside is "shared" from other units.

Most vulnerable and at risk are low income residents of subsidized housing with young children, people with respiratory conditions like asthma, and the elderly. Moving is often not an option and building managers and owners are often unaware of how to intervene.

The Communities

Since the project began in 2005, the project has assisted several Bay Area affordable housing providers voluntarily convert their buildings and units to non-smoking. In addition, the lung association staff has worked with the cities of Belmont, Novato, Rohnert Park, Dublin, and Pleasant Hill in passing legislation that requires non-smoking units and with Oakland, Martinez, Albany, and Contra Costa County in passing laws that require landlord disclosure of smoking units.