National Community Renaissance, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit community builders, is attacking a leading cause of death in the United States – secondhand smoke.

Collaborating with health agencies, the Rancho Cucamonga-based company is transitioning its entire portfolio of workplace, market rate and senior housing in California to smoke-free communities by Aug. 1.

“Fulfilling our mission of transforming lives begins with an awareness of how healthy living impacts individuals and entire communities,” said Steve PonTell, President and Chief Executive Officer of National CORE. “We believe this is a significant step in that direction, by addressing head-on one of the biggest health challenges we face as a country.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, secondhand smoke causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths and nearly 34,000 premature deaths from heart disease each year in the U.S. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can damage cells and the lining of blood vessels, making you more vulnerable to cancer or heart disease.

Although statewide efforts to ban smoking at apartment communities have failed over the years, California law does permit landlords to designate any portion of their property – including the entire complex – as nonsmoking. Late last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to eliminate smoking in all public-housing projects over the next 18 months to two years.

National CORE has begun informing its residents of the change and, working with local and county health agencies, will provide education on the benefits of smoke-free environments.