Public Support for Smoke-Free Section 8 Public Housing

As of July 31, 2018, all Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated Housing Authorities administering public housing must have a smoke-free policies, but this requirement does not extend to Section 8 housing. Section 8 public housing vouchers provide subsidies for private rental housing for low-income residents. This study examines support for smoke-free policy options in Section 8 housing. Using a nationally representative survey of adults, we asked 3,070 respondents to agree or disagree with two potential policies. The majority (71%) supported prohibiting indoor smoking everywhere inside buildings that have Section 8 housing units. Alternatively, respondents were less supportive (38%) of a policy to prohibit smoking only inside of units with Section 8 subsidies, and allowing smoking in non-subsidized units. Prohibiting smoking in all units in MUH buildings would help protect the health of both the 2.2 million households who receive Section 8 subsidies, and their neighbors.