The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is considering regulations that would ban smoking in the 1.2 million public housing units across the country.

The Washington Post reports that the proposed idea, presented Thursday, would force over 3,000 public-housing facilities to be smoke-free over the next few years. The agencies would be required to create standard policies that would ban lit tobacco products in living spaces, common areas, offices, and outdoor areas near housing and office buildings, according to the HUD.

HUD Secretary Julian Castro says the department has “…a responsibility to protect public housing residents from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, especially the elderly and children who suffer from asthma and other diseases.” The rules are expected to improve the health of over 760,000 children, and will ultimately save public housing agencies over $153 million in healthcare, repairs, while simultaneously preventing unnecessary fires.

A final decision will be made in about two months, following public comments about the proposal. The HUD has encouraged anti-smoking regulations since 2009. Over 600 agencies, and 228,000 units are already smoke-free.

Smoking cigarettes kills around 480,000 Americans a year, making it one of the lead preventable causes of death. Health data is the most cited when arguing for the new regulations, with particular focus on the children and elderly populations. U.S Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy says, “Everyone, no matter where they live, deserves a chance to grow up in a healthy, smoke-free home.”

Of the $153 Million projected to be saved by the new rules, $94 Million is related to secondhand-smoke related health care, and $43 Million in renovations where smoking is currently allowed.