Technical Paper 2:
Tobacco Control in Australia: making smoking history
3.5.6 The homeless
- Overview and summary of action proposed
- Summary of proposed measures
- 1 - Introduction: the big picture
2 - Progress in meeting National Tobacco Strategy objectives: trends and concerns
3 - Progress in Australia on recommended policies and programs- 3.1 - Regulate
- 3.2 - Public education: Increase promotion of Quit and smoke-free messages
- 3.3 - Improve services and treatment for smokers
- 3.4 - Better support families and educators
- 3.5 - Tailor messages and services for highly disadvantaged groups
- 3.6 - Address causes of disadvantage
- 3.7 - Improve focus in research, monitoring and evaluation
- 4 - What next, what first and for what cost?
- Major sources used in this document
- References
- Addendum for October 2008 to June 2009
For people who are homeless, quitting smoking could make the difference between saving for a bond in rental accommodation or being selected or not selected for a room in shared housing. Overseas pilot projects suggest that counselling and NRT have some potential for assisting these most disadvantaged smokers.[433, 434]
For people not yet homeless but in housing crisis or housing stress, quitting smoking could provide the extra funds that could make the difference between defaulting on a mortgage or eviction, and keeping a family home.
Idea for consideration
Ensure that all human service agencies are smoke-free.
Provide vouchers to receive free NRT from the Quitline to smokers in housing stress and those seeking emergency housing; to those seeking government rent assistance, direct lending and mortgage relief programs; and to clients of home purchase advisory and counselling services.
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