Housing agencies, landlords go smoke free

East Ward Village board members, from left, Shane Fagot, Housing Director Becky Dutcher, Shane Hilker and Judy Keenportz, have decided to make East Ward Village smoke-free when it is completed. (Courtesy photo)

McCook, Nebraska -- Nine housing agencies and five multi-unit landlords have achieved smoke free designation for their buildings. Housing directors and landlords have worked diligently to provide this opportunity for tenants, according to officials

"Through education from Smoke Free Nebraska, they have emphasized that secondhand smoke migrates," said Teresa Massey, Cambridge Housing Director.

Air quality studies in apartment buildings show that anywhere from 5 to 60 percent of the air in an apartment unit moves to other units in the building. Contrary to popular belief, secondhand smoke cannot be controlled by ventilation or air cleaning.

"These directors and landlords are to be congratulated for this step to protect tenants, especially children, from the effects of secondhand smoke," said Denise Ringenberg, Health Educator at Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.

"We want to recognize these leaders and their board members for their efforts and encourage other landlords to consider similar action."

Housing Agencies with smoke-free policies include: Arapahoe, Cambridge, Grant, Imperial, McCook, Oxford, Palisade and Wauneta. McCook multi-unit facilities include: Best Apartments, Eastward Villages, Jim Brandt, Melanie Goodenberger -- Golden Plains Realty, MISTERS LLC, and Warren Group LLC.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department will assist area Housing Agencies and private landlords implementing smoke free policies.

Additional materials are also available to assist in creating awareness of smoke free housing.

If you are interested in receiving information on Smoke Free Housing, please contact Denise Ringenberg at envhealth@swhealthdept.com, review our web site at http://www.swhealthdept.com/health.htm or call the McCook office at 308-345-4223 or visit us at 404 West 10th Street -- one block north of Arby's.

SWNPHD is also on Facebook at www.facebook. com/swnphd. The health department serves Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Furnas, Perkins and Red Willow counties.