“Boston Smoke-Free Homes: Good for your business. Good for your tenants”
Mayor Thomas M. Menino today launched Boston’s first smoke-free housing registry and called on landlords to use the free service to list their properties and expand housing options available to residents who want to live in smoke-free buildings.
Flanked by public health and smoke-free housing advocates, the Mayor also announced a new public awareness campaign to promote the housing registry. The initiative includes making free nicotine patches available to Boston residents who want to quit smoking.
“For the first time, the city is offering one-stop shopping for landlords who want to list their smoke-free units and tenants who are looking for a place to live where they can breathe a little easier,” said Mayor Menino. “Healthy homes are the foundation of a healthier Boston, and this initiative is a great example of how city government, working with developers and landlords, can come together to improve peoples’ lives.”
The Mayor also called on all city of Boston employees who own property in the city to join the effort and make their properties smoke-free. Property owners can register by visiting www.bostonsmokefreehomes.org
The registry was created by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), which is also providing technical assistance to property owners who need help transitioning their properties to smoke-free. BPHC is working with housing developers and managers as well as other city agencies, including the Boston Housing Authority, Boston Redevelopment Authority, Boston Fire Department, and the Department of Neighborhood Development to increase awareness and availability of smoke-free homes.
“Smoke-free housing means fewer trips to the hospital for asthma attacks, and fewer residential fires,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. "Smoke-free housing policies are good for the health of our city and will increasingly become the new norm in Boston.’’
The public awareness campaign includes a new website; radio, TV, and print ads; outdoor banners; and direct outreach to landlords. The campaign’s message is, “Boston Smoke-Free Homes: Good for your business. Good for your tenants.”
Boston landlords can register their smoke-free property and tenants can find them by visiting www.bostonsmokefreehomes.org
--BPHC--