Smoking Ban Postponed at AHFC Facilities

The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. is postponing its ban on smoking in state-subsidized public housing apartments.

The ban against smoking was to have gone into effect in August, but officials now say the policy is being reevaluated.

Residents of senior housing in Juneau and Fairbanks sent in petitions against the proposal.

AHFC Public Housing Division Director Catherine Stone says the public comments on the proposed ban were about even. But they were expecting the comments to reflect a 2010 survey showing most residents in senior and disabled facilities preferred a smoke-free policy.

She says there will be more consideration given before they make a second attempt at a no-smoking policy.