EVERETT — Hundreds of people who live in subsidized housing in Everett can no longer light up inside their homes.
A smoking ban took effect Friday at all of the Everett Housing Authority’s apartments, houses and duplexes.
The quasi-government entity owns or manages 1,047 affordable ho
using units occupied by about 2,300 tenants.
The change was needed, officials said, out of a concern for tenants’ health, the increased risk of fires and the expenditure of public money to prepare units for renting that have previously been occupied by smokers.
It can cost up to 30 percent more to get a smoker’s unit ready to re-rent, or about $500 extra, said Ellen Michaud, director of housing management.
The housing authority doesn’t know exactly how many of their tenants are smokers but the best estimate is around a third, she said. Tenants may still smoke outside, as long as they are at least 25 feet from another tenant’s door or window.
Everett is following a nationwide trend to implement non-smoking policies in public housing.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a memo in 2009 that “strongly encourages” public housing authorities to ban smoking. Many agencies nationwide have followed that advice. Some established smoke-free buildings or only allowed residents to smoke in designated areas.
Housing authorities in Island County, Walla Walla, Bremerton and Kennewick have all banned smoking.
Everett Housing Authority’s board of commissioners began talking about the issue in 2009. They opted to ease into a ban by first not allowing smoking by new tenants. That went into effect last August.
“That part was carried out with little to no problems,” Michaud said.
It’s been tougher changing the habits of long-time residents, some of whom have lived in public-assisted housing for decades.
The housing authority held meetings to let their tenants know about the idea and comment face-to-face. The agency also received around 100 written comments.
Some applauded the ban, others grumbled.
“It’s great to have a ‘no smoking’ rule since it comes through the vents, heater and walls always,” wrote one tenant.
Another called the policy unfair and impractical: “Not being able to smoke on housing grounds is crazy, unfair to disabled persons, illegal and unenforceable.”
Bev Bowers, a former smoker who lived in Everett affordable housing for a dozen years, said she could understand the reasoning but wondered how it would be enforced.
She never smoked inside her own apartment, but a neighbor did and her unit smelled of old smoke.
After the tenant moved out, “the painters had a heck of a time washing everything down and I don’t know how many coats it took to get it to an acceptable condition.”
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
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