Publish Date:
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
(ROXBURY, MA) Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC), a non-profit developer of affordable housing for low and moderate income families in Lower Roxbury, is excited to announce that three Boston community development corporations are partnering with property management companies to promote the Great American Smoke Out on November 17, 2014.
The Great American Smoke Out is celebrated each year around the country. Through support from Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation in Upham’s Corner, Madison Park Development Corporation in Dudley Square, and Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) in East Boston will join with United Housing Management and Tenants Development Corporation to publicize and honor their outstanding efforts to implement smoke-free housing policies. A combined 2,700 housing units will be affected by this change.
Tobacco use and exposure is a factor in many health conditions including asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, which are particularly common in the neighborhoods served by these three community development corporations.
|
Asthma ER visits (per 1,000 children under 5)
|
Hypertension
(Ages 45-64)
|
Adult Diabetes
|
Heart Disease Hosp (per 100,000)
|
Diabetes
Hosp (per 100,000)
|
East Boston
|
12.8
|
35%
|
11%
|
12.4
|
1.7
|
North Dorchester
|
50.4%
|
48%
|
8%
|
12.5
|
3.4
|
Roxbury
|
59.7%
|
55%
|
11%
|
14.7
|
4.7
|
Overall Boston
|
31.5%
|
36%
|
6%
|
11.2
|
2.3
|
Boston Public Health Commission Research and Evaluation Office, Health of Boston 2012-2013, BRFSS 2013.
In talking about plans for the Great American Smoke-Out, Jeanne Pinado, CEO of Madison Park points out the key connection between health and housing. “We understand the disparities in the rates of asthma and other chronic diseases impacting our neighborhood. MPDC is excited to take steps to implement internal housing policies that are shown to have a direct impact on the health of our residents. We have 1,212 affordable rental homes and are committed to providing smoke-free housing to over 3000 Roxbury residents at these properties. We have had several meetings and focus groups with residents and staff members in each of our properties. From these conversations we have been met with excitement and enthusiasm about making the shift to becoming a smoke-free property. BPHC will continue to assist us in successful implementation of our smoke-free housing policy.”
Currently, MPDC’s newly constructed Dudley Greenville Apartments on Dudley Street in Dudley Square stands as the smoke-free model. “This $18 million development features two new energy-efficient, mixed-use buildings with 43 affordable housing units and 2,715 square feet of ground floor commercial space, all of which are completely smoke-free.”
J. Kevin Bynoe, Regional Manager of United Housing Management LLC, has demonstrated strong support for this effort. “A healthy home is essential to a healthy family and United Housing Management (UHM) firmly supports this effort to increase the number of smoke free housing units for the residents of Boston and looks forward to working with other housing agencies and the Boston Public Health Commission. UHM is pleased to announce that Quincy Heights is our first 100% smoke free apartment community and that we are dedicated to transitioning our entire portfolio of properties over to 100% smoke free housing over the next 12 months.”
MPDC, NOAH and Dorchester Bay invite other local housing organizations and property management companies to join this effort to eliminate second hand smoke exposure within affordable housing. The Boston Public Health Commission has received funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Partnerships in Community Health (PICH) and Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to work with property owners and managers to increase the numbers of smoke-free residential units in Boston.
For more information on smoke-free housing contact BPHC at 617-534-2670.
About Madison Park Development Corporation
Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) was founded in 1966 when community activists said no to the threat of urban renewal in their neighborhood. Over the past 48 years, MPDC has become a champion in revitalizing Lower Roxbury and saying yes to resident-led development and community empowerment. MPDC’s mission is to create quality, mixed-income housing, and to promote the renaissance of Dudley Square as a thriving neighborhood business district, recognized as a center of commerce and culture.
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