Military Housing Problems

The quality of military housing can influence a service member's decision on whether to reenlist.

Old military housing sometimes is not maintained, and problems such as bad floors, mold or lack of paint are evident. Some military families also have trouble with cramped spaces and other problems. Some have the option of leaving military housing and living off-post. Others do not.

Significance

Military installations also house military families.

Problems in housing intended for families of those in the military can affect their quality of life. Because of the differences in housing, a family moving from one military post to another can leave a house with sufficient space and move into a cramped home. Service members and their families face the ongoing problem of too few on-post units and not enough affordable housing off-post, according to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense. Eventually, this can affect the readiness of the military if it causes service members not to reenlist.

Effects

Some military housing in Germany is plagued with black mold. Military doctors say there is no link between the mold and illnesses the children of several families have developed, but one family living in military housing near the Grafenwoehr Training Area said their small daughter developed a runny nose as soon as the weather got cold. Whenever they were away from their house for more than a day, their daughter's nasal symptoms vanished, they said.

Several families living in Kaltenbrunn military housing have complained to military officials about black mold in their quarters. While some families were moved out, others still live there and deal with the mold because, they say, housing personnel have done nothing about the issue, according to an article in Stars and Stripes, an independent military newspaper, and cited by Military.com Headlines.

Considerations

Military housing often dates to the 1950s and 1960s, according to the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. The housing has not been kept in a well-maintained condition because federal budgeting has not kept up with the ongoing need for regular maintenance.

Function

Military housing that is well maintained helps service members and their families to feel more comfortable about staying in the military. Even when the housing is old, as long as it has been kept in good repair, military families are more likely to extend their commitments to the military by reenlisting, according to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense.

Implications

Service members and their families have two choices regarding living quarters. They can live off-post and pay rent, for which they receive Basic Allowance for Housing to offset the rent. They can opt to sign up for on-post housing, but when they are notified a home is available, they must accept that assignment or drop to the bottom of the list. Housing is assigned according to the size of the family.

Some service members and their families who live in military quarters that are in poor repair or too small are not happy, but realize they have little choice in accepting their housing assignments.

References

• Military.com: More Cases of Moldy Military Housing
• Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense: Military Housing Privatization