how to create big environmental change on a small budget
TRANSCRIPT
How to Create Big Environmental Change on
a Small Budget
Breathe Easy, You’re In Maine
► 100% Public Housing Authorities and 2/5 tribal housing authorities
► 48% of all multi-unit housing
► Secondhand Smoke Tenant Disclosure Law
► State Qualified Allocation Plan Threshold Requirement
► All state parks/beaches and 6 local beach and 14 park ordinances
► 12 tobacco-free college campuses (2011= 1)
► 29 (75%) of Maine Hospitals have adopted 100% tobacco-free campus policies.
Smoke-Free Environments = Smart Policy
Creating smoke-free environments through policy change is a demonstrated way to create housing that is:
safer healthier less expensive reduce environmental waste
Which: People support/want Support healthy norms Help people quit smoking Substantially reduce healthcare costs Reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality,
including acute cardiovascular events
Big change, small budget
► Messaging that resonates► Know your audience ► Smart and effective partnerships► Technical assistance and online education► Low-cost mailers to targeted landlords► Social marketing► Incentive Programs► Free and earned media► Make it Easy
Key Messages that Resonate
► Prohibiting tobacco use will reduce your costs► Turnover costs (labor, time, materials)► Insurance costs (ask your carrier or shop around)► Less complains = management time saved► Building integrity
► Tenants prefer smoke-free living
► Smoking is a leading cause of home fires
► It is about the smoke, not the smoker
► Ventilations systems don’t work. Secondhand smoke travels and is harmful to others – in both indoor and outdoor settings
► Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death
Key Messages that Resonate: Know Your Audience
In Maine► 7/10 tenants, including those who smoke, prefer to live in smoke-
free housing► 43% of tenants would pay more to live in a smoke-free
environment► 20% adult smoking rate
99% of all landlords who have a smoke-free policy in place believe it is a good decision (MA)
What Do You Know?
Smart and Effective Partnerships
► Landlord Associations (state, local, regional)► Fire Marshal’s Office► State Housing Authority (and local)► Social Service agencies► City and State finance (incentives) AND councils (resolutions)► Homeless shelters and transitional housing► Property management groups► Tenant advocacy groups► Other Public Health Groups (Indoor Air Quality, Asthma,
COPD, etc.)► Hospital & College Health Associations (MHA position
statement)
Technical Assistance and Online Education
Low-Cost Mailers
Low cost mailers
Low-cost mailers
Low-cost mailers
Social Marketing
► E-blasts► E-mail/e-newsletters► Craig’s List postings► Google ads► YouTube ads► Facebook ads► Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Social Marketing
Incentive Programs: Gold Star Standards of Excellence
► 10 best-practice standards► Application process (guidance document, webinar)► Celebration with awards, photographs, sharing of
experience.► Swiss cheese press releases provided. State-wide
media release.
► 80% of hospitals participate► XX% of colleges
Incentive Programs
Free and Earned Media
Free and Earned Media
Free and Earned Media
“If people smoke outside only, and extinguish their
cigarette butts safely in water and sand, property
owners’ risk of fire would be reduced significantly.
They’d save thousands of dollars at turnover, and even
more importantly, lives would be saved.”
- Maine State Fire Marshal, 2012
Free and Earned Media
Make it Easy
Make it Easy
Remember the Key Talking Points
► It is about the smoke, not the smoker.
► Secondhand smoke travels and is harmful to others – in both indoor and outdoor settings.
► Prohibiting tobacco use can reduce costs.
► Communicating and educating about the policy is the key to successful implementation.
► Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death
For More Information
www.BreatheEasyMaine.org
Tina Pettingill, MPH [email protected]
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