Wilmington resident reacts to public housing smoking ban

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Smoking in public housing facilities, soon to be banned nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development passed the ban in November 2016. It will go into effect on July 31.

The new rule will be adopted by the developments run by the Wilmington Housing Authority. WHA commission chair Betsy Kahn thinks this is a positive change.

“From a health standpoint, sure, it’s a healthier environment,” Kahn said. “If someone moves out of a unit, it makes cleaning that unit faster and certainly reduces the potential for fires in units.”

Audrey Barnes is a smoker who lives at Eastbrook Apartments in Wilmington. She has a mixed opinion on the ban.

“The smoking ban, as far as within the unit, I can completely understand, but residents standing outside of their apartment or in their yard or whatever, I just think is a bit much,” Barnes said.

Barnes does think the new rule could help change her lifestyle and she may be less likely to pick up a cigarette in the future.

“Knowing that I’m not supposed to be smoking on the property within a unit. Of course, I’m not gonna go all the way to the front to smoke a cigarette or when I leave so I think eventually, I won’t be smoking as much or it’ll help cut back,” Barnes said.

Kahn says WHA has been working with residents and employees for several months to make these changes happen.

This ban does not apply to e-cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco, although there may be restrictions on those in some areas.

Under HUD rules, tenants can be evicted after three smoking violations.