Written by: Jazmine Guillen, Program Manager – FAME Tobacco Control Program

Residents of Los Angeles are protected against second-hand smoke exposure in the workplace and at many public places. However, there is no guaranteed legal protection that safeguards residents of multi-unit housing from breathing unwanted smoke in their own homes.

Exposure to second-hand smoke is an acknowledged nuisance, but more importantly, it is a health hazard, and also carries costs associated with smoke damage as well as increased risk of fire. Allowing smoking in apartment complexes creates issues and added costs for property owners, as well as potentially harming the health, safety and comfort of residents.

A study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in 2022 determined that only 20 percent of apartments in Los Angeles have a smoke-free policy. The same study found that 82 percent of apartment residents say that they are in support of smoke-free policies, including people who smoke.

In the absence of a citywide ordinance, the responsibility for providing these types of protections falls upon landlords, who have the full legal right to impose and enforce smoke-free policies at their properties, but who are sometimes hesitant about doing so out of fear of pushback from tenants and potential loss of income.

However, through our experience at FAME Corporations, we have found that the benefits far outweigh the risks in adopting a smoke-free policy, and when done properly, can enhance landlord-tenant relations, create a greater sense of harmony and community and save money. Moving towards smoke-free housing is not only a worthy investment, but can also be a win-win in terms of tenant relations.

On Jan. 1, FAME Corporations adopted a smoke-free policy across our 12 affordable apartment complexes is South Los Angeles. The policy required all indoor and outdoor common areas, including entrances, lobbies, open spaces and play areas, as well as 100 percent of connecting individual units (including balcony and patio areas) to be designated as smoke free. The policy was implemented as a lease addendum, prohibiting smoking of all tobacco products, marijuana and e-cigarettes.

FAME’s primary interest in implementing the policy was out of concern for tenant’s welfare, and to create a healthy home environment for our residents. Exposure to second-hand smoke can cause serious health problems and a reduced quality of life.

Young children are at a higher risk because their bodies are still growing and they breathe at a faster rate than adults. Kids exposed to second-hand smoke are at a greater risk for asthma attacks and respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

The process to introduce and adopt the policy took place over more than a year. We were able, through supportive funding provided by the California Tobacco Control Program, to conduct community education presentations, public opinion polls and tenant focus groups to fully understand our residents’ beliefs and concerns about adopting a smoke-free housing policy.

After surveying more than 100 residents, 66 percent were in favor of implementing a smoke-free policy to protect the health of their families. We also recruited tenant liaisons to speak to their neighbors one-on-one and address any concerns they might have with a peer.

We were able to use this experience to educate our tenants about the harms of second-hand smoke and about their right to live free from breathing unwanted smoke from their neighbors. The education process allowed tenants to feel heard and consulted about the policy change, and helped them understand our motivations.

The change to a new policy on Jan. 1 became a collaborative effort with all parties involved in creating a healthier community environment.

Creating smoke-free housing can not only yield happier and healthier tenants, but also produce a significant return to property owners. According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, costs can be anywhere from two to seven times greater when turning over units where smoking is allowed versus smoke-free units.

FAME anticipates substantial savings through lower costs for maintaining and remediating units for new tenants as well as reducing its potential liability, risk of residential fires, tenant conflicts and even insurance premiums

Our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. FAME Housing Portfolio Manager Carmen Buenrostro reports receiving many compliments from tenants on their new living environment.

“There is a tremendous change in the culture of the apartment buildings and people who smoke have been respectful of the policy,” Buenrostro said. “There is less maintenance, less conflict and better communication between tenants and managers.”

In follow-up focus groups with residents, we experienced overwhelming gratitude and welcoming of further tenant education and other supportive measures to ensure the success of our smoke-free initiative. This process has strengthened our tenant communities and is reinforced by CEO Denise Brown’s priority of creating safe, healthy homes for our residents.

Jazmine Guillen serves as a program manager for FAME Assistance Corporation’s Tobacco Control Program.

Link to article on Los Angeles Wave

FAME Corporations was recently featured as a partner on the UCLA SAFE website.  We thank them for the partnership and look forward to a successful partnership going forward.  Below is the quoted article.

FAME Corporations: A Committed Partner With Impressive Track Record

Posted by Terry Kanakri on 12 July 2022, 3:48 pm UCLA SAFE Website

With a mission to foster self-sufficient, healthy and secure communities for families across Los Angeles, FAME Corporations is a natural fit to be a partner to the Smokefree Apartments Los Angeles (SALA) initiative.

By joining the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in its efforts to increase access to smokefree apartments across the city, FAME believes that will improve the quality-of-life for thousands of Angelenos.

“Helping residents in high-need communities to combat exposure to unwanted, drifting secondhand tobacco smoke is a natural fit with our mission to empower communities to be healthy places,” said Denise Brown, President and CEO.

“Over the last few years, tobacco control has grown to become one of our cornerstone programs,” she continued. “Our experienced staff has developed a reputation for their expertise and commitment to reducing exposure to tobacco products and secondhand smoke in low-income communities.”

As part of SALA’s goal to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke among Latino and African-American families across Los Angeles, FAME is an important contributor to the success of this project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among other things, FAME has:

• Conducted public opinion surveys
• Provided community presentations
• Raised awareness through community engagement
• Highlighted tenant experiences and success stories
• Identified and engaged apartment housing providers

Seeking voluntary restrictions on smoking in apartments across Los Angeles is a public health issue that needs to be addressed, Brown said.

“Those who claim smoking restrictions interfere with their personal liberties often haven’t considered the negative health impacts smoking has on those around them,” she noted. “Smoking restrictions are less about infringements on one’s right to smoke, but more about a public health concern. It’s about protecting people from the adverse health effects and consequences resulting from unwanted secondhand smoke exposure. In that respect, non-smokers have a right to be protected.”

That’s why FAME is proud to partner with UCLA in efforts to improve public health among vulnerable populations in Los Angeles, Brown said.

“Secondhand smoke can negatively impact entire communities,” she explained. “This is why this project’s success is so important to us.”

Residents of FAME Housing’s apartment complexes now enjoy smoke-free air thanks to the efforts of FAME’s Tobacco Team and the Residential Voluntary Smoking Reduction Program. As of January 1st of 2022, all FAME properties have adopted and implemented smoke-free policies requiring all outdoor common areas (e.g., open spaces, playgrounds, swimming pool areas, entrances) and 100% of contiguous individual units (including balconies & patios) to be designated as smoke-free. The new policy will greatly reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and will increase air quality in public spaces.

The Residential Voluntary Smoking Reduction Program at FAME Corporations is grant-funded by the California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, tobacco smoke residue, tobacco smoke waste, and other tobacco smoke products. The program works with residents and community stakeholders who want to live free from unwanted exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Under this program FAME Tobacco staffers Joshua Brindle and Jazmine Guillen worked collaboratively with the apartment communities and FAME Housing management on the implementation of the proposed policy by conducting resident surveys and focus groups, community presentations, distributing factsheets and pamphlets, and providing information at FAME Housing community events.

The objective of the FAME Tobacco Team was to convert six multi-unit housing complexes over the course of the two year grant period. But thanks to the Tobacco Team’s diligent efforts, they achieved double that number and will have converted twelve complexes, including those of FAME Housing.

FAME Corporations is proud of the work undertaken between the housing communities and the FAME Tobacco Team to provide cleaner, healthier air for our residents.

For more information about the smoke-free policy which took effect on January 1st at all FAME Housing properties, please contact FAME Housing.