Privatized military housing’s black eye

The non-profit Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) conducted a non-scientific targeted military family online survey (Jan. 6-Feb. 6) to try and figure out the scope of problems with five privately-managed military housing companies across 46 states following reports in 2018 of mold, termites, lead paint, faulty wiring, poor water quality and vermin causing health-related issues. Respondents also noted their requests for remediation or reporting the issues were often denied and ignored by base commanders. Nearly 56 percent of 14,558 respondents said they had "negative or very negative experiences" with base housing. The results of the online survey were released Feb. 13 hours before Senate Armed Services subcommittees were to hold a joint hearing on those issues with military family, Pentagon officials, and executives from the five private companies - Balfour Beatty Communities, Corvias Group, Hunt Military Communities, Americas Lendlease Corp., and Lincoln Military Housing- were to testify. Military families cited 35 firms. Crystal Cornwall told of a move from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to military house at Keesler AFB, Miss., where termites fell out of light fixtures. At Pendleton, the family lived with pervasive mold. Janna Driver’s family suffered from respiratory issues, headaches, nosebleeds and other problems at Tinker AFB, Okla. "It's clear this is happening everywhere,” said Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, chairman of the SASC. Nearly all military housing is now being managed by private companies since 1996, when DoD turned over responsibility under a 50-year contract. About 30 percent of military families live in military housing, according to the DoD. During testimony, the five executives were contrite, but John Picerne of Corvias was the only one to apologize. When asked about annual profits, Christopher Williams of Balfour said net profits were $33M annually; Corvias: From $12M-$14M; the other three declined or promised to answer later. The committees floated some ideas to fix some issues: Requiring firms to issue a tenant bill of rights; breaking the 50-year contracts and rebid so others could compete; and conducting and publishing satisfaction online surveys. Spouses asked for the option to withhold rent if maintenance issues are not addressed. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy John Henderson agreed with the withholding rent suggestion. “It would be nice if we had discretion over the incentive fee so we had a bigger hammer to hold over our project managers," Henderson said. (Source: Military.com 02/13-14/19) Gulf Coast Note: Balfour manages military housing at NAS Meridian and NCBC Gulfport, Miss.; NAS Pensacola and Whiting Field, Tyndall AFB, NSA Panama City, Fla. Corvias manages units at Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB, Fla., and Fort Rucker, Ala. Hunt manages units at Keesler AFB, Miss.