By Joe Cadotte, FOX 21 News

DULUTH - The American Lung Association and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development say it's just a matter of time before no one is allowed to light up in public housing.

24 housing authorities in Minnesota have adopted smoke free policies and HUD is encouraging other housing managers to ban as well. According to a study done by the lung association, three out of ten people living in public housing have lung disease or a heart condition. The association says even if you don't smoke in your apartment, you're still at risk for second-hand smoke.

Damiano Housing Access Program Director Cynthia Finley says she's had an increase of phone calls from landlords and tenants wanting their building smoke free. "So I think this is a really positive step for everybody's safety. For everybody's health and for giving everybody lots of choices about where they could choose to live."

The Two Harbors Public Housing Authority plans to implement a smoke-free policy in October.