1. THE SHELTER GROUP’S SMOKE-FREE INITIATIVE
Maryland Healthy Housing Symposium

2. SHELTER’S APPROACH Planning & Preparation Communication & Signage
Enforcement
Re-Enforcement
When deciding to go smoke-free, we went with a four-pronged approach:

3. PLANNING & PREPARATION
Smoke-free areas
Communication
Common areas only?
Who needs to know?
Apartments?
Signage?
Outdoors?
Written notices?
Designated smoking areas?
Open forums?
Updated leases/addendums
Rollout/Timeline
Enforcement
Phased in?
All at once?
Warnings?
Effective immediately?
Proof?
30/60/90 days?
Lease violations?
Second chances?
Resources
Evictions?
Cessation courses?
AREAS: At Shelter, we always knew we wanted to be completely smoke-free. We felt it easier to enforce, as there are no gray areas.
TIMELINE: The indoor common areas (community rooms, hallways, etc.) were already smoke-free, so we decided to make all common areas smoke-free effective immediately upon notification. This included any outdoor spaces, picnic areas, etc. At this time, residents could still smoke in apartments. Because we have a large number of properties, we decided to phase in the apartments by region. Lessons learned during our first rollout allowed us to fine tune our remaining rollouts.
RESOUCES: We chose to offer onsite on-site cessation classes, if there was enough interest. All communication included links and phone numbers to local and national resources. Employees were encouraged to seek assistance through EAP.
COMMUNICATION: Most of Shelter’s Properties are affordable, which means we had to reach out to investors, syndicators and other agencies. We sent letters to vendors and staff. Residents received letters and discussions with upper management.
ENFORCEMENT: We chose to treat smoking like any other lease violation, meaning repeat offenders could be evicted.

4. COMMUNICATION & SIGNAGE
Partnering Organizations
Various locations around campus
Written notice requesting approval
Current Residents
Lease addendum to be approved
Written notice
Community signage
Vendors
Resident meetings
Written notification
Employees
Waitlisted Residents
Guidelines for implementation
Updated lease addendum
Smoking cessation resources
Advertising
Update print ads
Signage
Update internet listing sites
Entrance of community
Letters included info supporting our decision - basic info on secondhand smoke, warnings from the Surgeon General.
Also included local and national resources.

5. ENFORCEMENT (is easy!)
Treat smoking violations like any other lease violation!
Consistency
Resident complaints
Seeing vs. smelling smoke
Three strikes, you’re out
…sort of
CONSISTENCY – Consistent enforcement prevents lawsuits or discrimination cases from surfacing
RESIDENT COMPLAINTS – Since management cannot be everywhere all of the time, some self-policing goes on. We encourage residents with valid complaints to notify the Property Manager. As management, we need to make sure these are valid complaints and not hearsay or personal attacks. All complaints are investigated.
SEEING vs. SMELLING – seeing someone smoking is an obvious violation. Smelling smoke isn’t always obvious. In some apartments, residents had been smoking in there for so long, the apartment continued to smell strongly like smoke, to the point that received complaints.
THREE STRIKES – Though we want to maintain a level of consistency, every situation is slightly different. Generally, once someone receives three official violations is when we feel we have a case for eviction.
NO WARNINGS – We do take a pretty hard stance. We feel we provided everyone with ample written notice, education, optional cessation offerings, etc. That’s part of the consistency we’re trying to drive home. Each time a resident receives a violation, they are, again, offered cessation resources.
No warnings

6. RE-ENFORCEMENT Continued Education Re-Engagement Programs
Guest speakers
Newsletter articles
Cessation resource reminders
Re-Engagement Programs
Kick-Butts Initiative - one month program geared toward re-engaging residents through education, weekly flyers, guest speakers, trivia, giveaways, etc.
Commit to Quit – designated quit wall located in public area, residents received Quit Cards to fill out their smoke-free stories/pledges

7. EXAMPLES

8. EXAMPLES

9. EXAMPLES

10. DID WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION?
YES NO
Have we had violations? YES
Have we had evictions? Almost
Are our communities healthier and more marketable because of the policy? YES
We have to remember that cultural shifts take time, especially for those who have smoked for years. The housing industry just happens to be one tiny part of the smoke-free movement – the workplace, malls, restaurants, bars – now, your home. We’re moving in the right direction.

11. THANK YOU! Tiffany Nicolette Marketing & Services Manager