Toledo public housing complexes go smoke-free

TOLEDO (AP) — Seven public housing complexes in Toledo are going smoke-free starting Wednesday.

The Blade newspaper reports that the tobacco-free policy adopted by the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority’s board of directors in June follows a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

It urged public housing authorities as well as the owners and managers of multifamily housing rental assistance programs to prohibit smoking in their properties.

The change affects about 850 of the 3,100 units managed by the housing authority, which operates 25 public housing developments in the county.

Under the new policy, smoking is not permitted in any rooms of apartments and common areas in the buildings. Areas outside the buildings will be designated for resident smoking.