ESCANABA - Under an initiative funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Public Health Delta-Menominee Counties (PHDM) is working to promote smoke-free affordable multi-unit housing.
As part of its effort, PHDM sponsored a visit to Escanaba by James Bergman, co-director of the Center for Social Gerontology. Bergman is also the director of Smoke-free Environmental Law Projects, based in Lansing.
Bergman was in Escanaba Friday to meet with the local landlords association, providing information on how to convert rental units to non-smoking units. His presentation also included implementation and enforcement of the non-smoking initiative.
Bergman said complaints regarding second-hand smoke from multi-unit housing complexes were received beginning in 2001-02. Many of the complaints involved second-hand smoke coming into the apartment of a non-smoking resident.
"While at the time there was legal recourse available to non-smoking tenants, it was costly, and it was determined a new approach was necessary from a legislative standpoint," said Bergman.
He said it is important for landlords and owners of multi-housing units to be aware they can implement smoke-free facilities.
"Back about six years ago in 2004, you could not find any smoke-free apartments in the Upper Peninsula, while today there are literally thousands of smoke-free units available across the state," said Bergman.
In Michigan, approximately 20 percent of adults are smokers, with only 10 percent of adults 65 and older being smokers, according to Bergman.
"We are looking to implement between 80 to 90 percent of all housing facilities being smoke-free and adopting smoke-free policies," said Bergman.
He also pointed out the economic benefits of multi-housing units adopting a smoke-free policy and environment. Bergman said a significant savings can be realized by landlords or owners in maintenance.
"It can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 to rehabilitate an apartment where a smoker has lived. The money from cleaning tar and nicotine stains from walls, priming and painting and hoping the stains don't come through is one area. Another is the removal and replacement of carpeting, replacement of countertops which have cigarette burns, not to mention scrubbing every inch of an apartment," said Bergman.
Another economic factor is the reduced risk of fire. It has been estimated 9 percent of all fires nationally in apartments or apartment complexes are due to smoking.
"Going smoke free can also increase a rental units resale value. Most people who are looking to rent would prefer to rent an apartment where a non-smoker has resided as compared to one who smoked," said Bergman.
