No Smoking Policy

Albany Housing Authority is committed to providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment for the residents, guests, and staff on its campus, it hereby adopts the following smoke free policy.

Albany Housing Authority Smoke-Free Policy
HUD's Final Rule of February 3, 2017, each PHA must implement a "smoke-free" policy banning the use of prohibited tobacco products in all public housing living units, indoor common areas in public housing, and in PHA administrative office buildings. Smoking will not be allowed in common areas, resident units, offices and all DHA buildings and grounds.

Albany Housing Authority is implementing this policy because we are concerned with secondhand smoke and the affect it has on the health of our residents and the community. By going smoke-free, we are improving the overall health of the community, reducing tenant complaints, and reducing maintenance cost. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure because smoke drifts throughout a building. It can enter through ceiling crawl spaces, light fixtures and walls, and seeps under and around doors. Ventilation systems do not protect families from secondhand smoke. Most air filter systems are designed to remove odors, not the toxic particles from tobacco smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists secondhand smoke as a Class A Carcinogen, the most toxic class of chemicals that are known to cause cancer in humans. Secondhand smoke is the leading trigger of asthma attacks and other respiratory problems and a known cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Definition of Smoking: Inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking devices for burning tobacco or any other plant.

If you have questions about this policy please call our office 229-434-4505.