Problem/Objective: Although California has an overall adult smoking prevalence rate of 15%; the current smoking rate among Low Socio-Economic Status (Low SES) adults is twice that, around 30%. Socio-Economic Status is the single greatest predictor of smoking behavior. Objective: The city of Redding, CA will adopt a policy requiring a minimum of 25% of new development of low-income housing be smoke free.

Methods: In California, despite strict indoor workplace laws and scattered ordinances related to outdoor smoking, 56% of adults (over age 18), 64% of adolescents (12-17 years) and 38% of children (0-11 years) are currently being exposed to Secondhand Smoke. Our agency recognized the need to recruit a local taskforce to design and implement the policy development process. Social service agencies, primarily those serving low SES populations came together to support the effort to designate smoke free low-income multi-unit housing. Support was garnered from many segments of the social service spectrum, including missions, agencies serving disabled and elderly populations, homeless shelters and transitional housing, as well as from public health agencies. Taskforce members attended meetings of city housing and redevelopment agency staff to learn about their funding mechanisms and priorities and to provide education about the need to provide smoke free housing to low-income populations.

Results: The city of Redding passed an ordinance requiring at least 75% of the units of new low-income multi-unit housing be non-smoking.

Conclusions: Recognize that low-income or subsidized housing is often the housing of last resort for vulnerable populations and plan education and outreach strategies accordingly.