MILWAUKEE -- You can no longer smoke in federally owned public housing residences in Wisconsin.
The rule is part of a nationwide effort that's expected to protect close to two million Americans.
“For me it’s just an extra instrument of safety and precaution implemented through the HUDs,” Dorise Harrdin said.
Harrdin was once a smoker, but she said a family crisis forced her to quit. She now speaks publicly about the dangers of second-hand smoke and hopes everyone can get on board with the new smoke-free housing rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that goes into effect Monday.
“No one can tell you what to do, but if you’re going to be in the HUD properties, you’re going to have to follow their rules and guidelines," Harrdin said.
In November 2016 HUD announced a rule requiring all federally-owned public housing to becomesmoke-freeby July 30th. This new rule will protect close to two million Americans nationwide from being exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, including 690,000 children.
HUD plans to have onsite managers at each property to enforce this rule.
