Guidelines being put into effect by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will soon be felt by residents of the Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency.
Agency commissioners met Tuesday morning and voted to adopt a new smoke free policy that falls in line with requirements put in place by the HUD.
Going into effect January 1, 2018, residents at EHDA can still smoke, but 25 feet away from agency properties, including homes, administrative buildings, playgrounds or walking trails.
EHDA Executive Director Kelly Geagley said the agency has spent the past several months looking to engage with the community and make citizens aware of the changes.
“We tried to meet in the mornings, afternoon and evening hours with residents,” Geagley said. “We really didn’t have a great deal of attendance, but we did have people at each meeting. I just want to make sure the residents are educated on this and I hope it is being advertised enough that everyone knows about it.”
According to the HUD website, no individual has the “right” to smoke in a rental home and no one is protected subclass under anti-discrimination laws. The department added that nobody will be “grandfathered” under the policy that would be adopted. If a resident were to violate the policy, they would be subject to lease termination.
Geagley added it would be a change for some, but that they aren’t asking residents to quit all together, with smoking still available in certain areas.
But for those wanting to stop tobacco usage, the department has partnered with other local organizations to tackle the cause.
Working in conjunction with the Carter County Health Department, Geagley added the agency will provide free smoke cessation classes to help residents who want to help kick the urge.
“The health department has been great to work with,” he said. “They’ve met with our residents and we’ve had positive feedback so far. We’ve already had some pick up material.”
EHDA residents wanting to take part in the classes can contact Brittany Shoun with the department at (423) 543-3571 ext. 308.
In other business, the board voted to unanimously budget measures and a resolution to write off and dispose of equipment.
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