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Increasing the number of smoke-free home environments means cleaner air, improved health, and increased safety for everyone, especially some of the most vulnerable Boston residents – children, the elderly, and those with respiratory and heart conditions.  It is also benefits landlords, who save time, money, and effort on maintenance and management.  

From 2014-2017, Boston REACH: Partners in Health and Housing is ​working to:

• Improve the implementation of Boston Housing Authority (BHA)'s smoke-free housing policy in its public housing developments 

• Increase the number of smoke-free BHA Rental Assisted/Section 8 housing units and mixed finance developments ​

BHA Public Housing

• Development of a smoking violation reporting system, including a website with resources and a central email and phone line to report complaints
• Trainings and technical assistance to BHA property managers and residents regarding the new system and smoke-free policy at BHA  
  

BHA Section 8 & Mixed Finance

• Trainings and technical assistance to make more Section 8 properties smoke-free ​
• Created a check box for BHA Section 8 landlords to list their properties as smoke-free to make it easier for tenants to find smoke-free housing  
  
• Citywide Boston Smoke-Free Homes Campaign (launched August 2016) 
  

To learn more about our BHA Section 8 Smoke-Free Housing initiative, read our 
Success Story.