Smoke-free campaign reaches milestone

    Just four years ago, Auburn Housing Authority became the first public housing authority in Maine to adopt a smoke-free policy.
    Today, Auburn Housing Authority is one of 18 housing authorities in Maine with a smoke-free policy.  There are currently two public housing authorities and four tribal housing authorities that do not have written policies in place that cover some or all of their buildings.  Maine is recognized nationally as containing the highest percentage, 72 percent, of housing authorities with a smoke-free policy, second only to Michigan in total number.
    “There are currently 50 units registered in Houlton and Presque Isle,” notes Martha Bell, district tobacco coordinator of Healthy Aroostook.  “We are proud to announce the availability of smoke-free apartments in our community and hope to encourage more landlords to go smoke-free.”
    If you are interested in learning more about smoke-free policy adoption, or would like to list your smoke-free units on the Coalition’s free online registry, please visit www.smokefreeforme.org or call Bell at 532-5314.