No Smoking Policy

Dickson (DHA) Buildings, rental units, community centers, play areas, and adjoining properties are Smoke-Free.

Smoking includes inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device. This also includes the use of E-cigarettes, vapor-emitting devices, and hookahs.

SMOKE-FREE POLICIES
In accordance with HUD regulations, The public housing authority has adopted these smoke-free policies. The policies are effective as of July 11, 2017, the Board approval date.

Purpose
To address the increased risk of fire, increased maintenance costs, increased insurance costs and the known adverse health effects of secondhand smoke. All buildings including apartments located within Dickson (DHA) have been designated as smoke-free.

Scope
This policy applies to any and all persons entering a housing authority smoke-free property, including but not limited to, residents, their guests and visitors, contractors and employees.

Policy

1. Smoking will be prohibited in individual housing units and common areas of properties owned and operated by the Dickson Housing Authority. The term "smoking" means the inhaling, burning, or smoking of any tobacco product in any manner or any form, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).
2. "Individual housing units" are defined as the interior and exterior spaces tied to a particular dwelling unit. This includes but is not limited to, living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, carports, patios, and entryways.
3. "Common spaces" are defined as areas that are open to the public, including but not limited to sidewalks, community patios and gardens, playgrounds, parking lots, and any other area of the building or complex that is accessible to employees, residents and guests.
4. Residents and guests who smoke are required to smoke a minimum of 25 feet from building entrances, windows and common areas and dispose of their smoking materials properly.
5. Management will be responsible for enforcement of this smoke-free housing policy.
6. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the smoke-free policy is a material violation of the lease and subjects the resident to possible sanctions, up to and including termination of the lease and possible financial costs to remove evidence of smoking from units.
7. Any resident, including the members of their household, guests, or visitors will be considered in violation of the lease if found smoking in any Dickson Housing Authority facility or apartment or anywhere on DHA property that is deemed nonsmoking area. Three (3) violations will be considered to be repeated violation of the material terms of the lease and will be cause for eviction.
8. After the first warning, a cleaning charge of $250.00 may be added to the resident account for each violation of the policy that occurs in the apartments, building common areas or any other nonsmoking area on DHA property. (Any cigarette butts not properly disposed of may also be cause for a cleaning service charge.)
9. If the smell of smoke is reported, DHA will seek the source of the smoke and appropriate action will be taken, Residents are encouraged to promptly give DHA a written statement of any incident where tobacco smoke is migrating into the resident's unit from sources outside of the resident's unit.
10. Upon adoption of this policy, all residents of DHA will be given a copy of the policy. After review both incoming residents at first lease-up execution and current residents at next annual recertification, will be required to sign the Smoke Free Lease addendum. A copy will be retained in the tenant file.

Resident Responsibility

1. It shall be the Resident's responsibility to inform his/her household members and guests of this Smoking Policy.
2. The Resident shall prohibit smoking by his/her household members or guests while on the premises that would violate this Policy.
3. Failure to comply, or repeated violations, to the Policy may be cause for lease enforcement actions.