HAP Adopts No-Smoking Policy for Real Estate Portfolio 

HAP is among the first housing authorities in the country to adopt a no-smoking policy for its real estate portfolio, starting with its 37 public housing properties.  Effective August 1, the policy change will eliminate smoking in all public housing units, common areas and within ten feet of the building.  HAP is one of the largest housing authorities to adopt such a policy.

“Scientific research, coupled with a survey of our residents, convinced us this was the right step to improve the indoor environment within our properties to benefit both employee and resident health,” said Erik Fabian, public housing property manager.

HAP’s journey down this road began with a steady increase in non-smoking resident complaints about secondhand smoke traveling from unit to unit, along with an increased awareness of the health dangers of secondhand smoke.  With the help of the American Lung Association in Oregon, a survey was sent to all of HAP's public housing residents to assess smoking behaviors.  Of the 45 percent who responded, 61 percent said they would support a policy that would prohibit smoking inside HAP units.  Residents are not required to quit smoking or move.  On-site staff will help smokers struggling with the policy to find ways to comply or seek cessation resources if they choose to quit smoking.  The policy will be implemented across 33 properties in the affordable housing portfolio in 2010. 

The rolling public housing waiting list strategy is working as planned: Slavin Court and Hillsdale Terrace, both family properties in Southwest Portland, will open waiting lists for 3-bedroom units from June 1 through June 5.  This is the first opening of waiting lists at any HAP public housing property in a year.  Each month, HAP assesses all waiting lists.  If a property, or a specific bedroom size, has less than a year’s worth of applicants, that property’s waiting list will be opened for a limited time.  The rolling waiting list approach is designed to avoid long periods between openings and reach people in need more quickly.

“Under the old centralized waiting list approach, applicants were assigned housing regardless of job, family, or support system,” said Rodger Moore, assistant director of property management with responsibility for public housing.  “With the site-based system, applicants get to choose where they want to live.  We believe this makes for a happy and successful resident, and gives them the resources they need to build a better quality of life."