Portland-Vancouver Metro Area Smokefree Housing Project Thank you to our funders: American Legacy Foundation Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at Northwest Health Foundation Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program Washington Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Steps to a Healthier Clark County/ Community Choices 2010

Project Overview “Systems Change” Approach Smokefree Housing Advisory Board Assessment & Evaluation Materials Development Media Strategies Successes

Landlord trade associations endorse & disseminate message Landlord training programs cover “how & why” to go smokefree Commonly available lease forms include “no- smoking” policy check-box “No-smoking” lease addenda available Change the environment that influences landlords by achieving the following: “Systems Change” Approach

Smokefree status is amenity category in vacancy listings Fair Housing Council of Oregon handles requests from qualified tenants Property managers/owners adopt voluntary policies Media stories reinforce “trend” The Social Norms change…we get to the “tipping point” and… Public policy is championed by landlord & renter advocates themselves “Systems Change” Approach

Smokefree Housing Advisory Board We involved key partners from the beginning All are targets for change –Landlord trade associations –Renter’s advocacy groups –Government bureaus that plan & fund housing, or provide training/resources to landlords Coffee meetings: Learned about organizations, Asked advice, Invited to join Board Board meets “as needed” –Most advice is sought in one-on-one meetings –Annual meetings –Low-traffic listserv

Assessment & Evaluation Phase 1: Formative Research –How big is the SHS problem? –What do renters think & want? –What do landlords think & want? –What messages work? –Who should deliver them? Commissioned “market survey” –(20% renters have, 76% want smokefree policies) Landlord focus groups & executive interviews Reports & assessment tools available at

Assessment & Evaluation Phase 2 & 3: Ongoing assessment & evaluation –Is the campaign working? –Are policies being adopted? –Are more renters protected from SHS? Online survey through landlord trade associations BRFSS questions: renter status, smokefree policy, preference Repeat renter survey in 2009

Educational Materials Development Compiled examples from national partners & our previously developed materials Got formal input from Advisory Board on needs & preferences Used findings from market research and landlord focus groups to guide messages & format

Landlord messages focus on business benefits: 1.Emphasize market demand 2.Reinforce reduced damage & turn-over expenses 3.Mention reduced fire hazard & liabilities (Fair Housing requests, Litigation risks, SHS hazards) 4.Provide practical, easy steps Educational Materials Development You can achieve public health goals without always focusing on the health aspects

Educational Materials Development Materials include: A Landlord’s Guide to No-Smoking Policies 3.Smokefree building/ property stickers 4.Landlord training curriculum & renter packet under revision

Media Strategies Reach landlord audience, not general public, through earned media Submit articles to landlord trade publications & newsletters Pitch stories to business reporters, not health reporters Help landlords publicize policies

Successes Monthly front-page articles in local newspaper, The Apartment Manager The 3 major local providers of lease forms include no-smoking check-box & addenda Website count: 923 (as of 10/15/07) Smoke-free policies discussed in landlord training programs Policy adoption by Guardian Management –Protects 24,000 renters from SHS! –Role-model for other companies Other policies to be announced soon!!

Colleen Hermann-Franzen American Lung Association of Oregon Diane Laughter, MPH American Lung Association of Oregon Kylie Meiner, MPH Multnomah County Health Department Theresa Cross, MS, RD, CD Clark County Public Health