No Smoking in Public Housing by 2018

If you smoke in your home and you live in public housing, soon you’ll be required to stop smoking or you’ll have to move.
Public housing developments nationwide, including all those in Coffee County will be required to provide a smoke-free environment for their residents.
The new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule, set for full implementation by August 2018, requires each agency administering public housing to ban lit tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) and waterpipes (hookahs) in all living units, indoor common areas, administrative offices and all outdoor areas within 25 feet of housing and administrative office buildings.
Beginning Feb 3, 2017 more than 3,100 agencies across the country will have 18 months to implement the required smoke-free policies.
According to HUD, this rule improves indoor air quality in the housing; benefits the health of public housing residents, visitors, and staff; reduces the risk of catastrophic fires; and lowers overall maintenance costs.