See this and more inside the July issue of Military Spouse Magazine!
As a co-sponsor of the Ensuring Safe Housing of Our Military Act, what is your opinion on the progress that needs to be made with military housing in 2020? What do you think needs to be done to restore the MIA rights?
“Our service members make sacrifices to protect our country, and they and their families deserve safe, affordable housing that isn’t falling apart around them. So when I heard that many military families were facing poor on-base housing conditions because of greedy housing companies and the Pentagon’s failed oversight, I launched an investigation, and then I introduced a bill to make it right. The NDAA included several provisions from my bill, the Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act, including provisions to improve oversight and accountability for private military housing contractors. While this is an important first step to addressing this problem, I’ll keep fighting to increase oversight and transparency at the Department of Defense so that our military families get the high-quality housing they deserve.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
“Last year, after dangerous conditions were exposed in military housing across the country, we passed critical reforms to create a tenant bill of rights and hold housing contractors accountable. But our work is not done. While oversight of military housing has improved, the next step is working through the dispute resolution process in cases where the tenant and housing provider can’t come to an agreement. Further, in the next defense bill, I hope we can create a mechanism to secure money for repairs of existing homes and improve spot-checking of maintenance problems to keep pressure on housing providers. Guaranteeing safe housing is the least we can do for our men and women in uniform and their families.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia
“We take our role as a megaphone for military families seriously. Because of the brave families that spoke up, the research report MFAN produced — which earned more than 500 million media impressions — and many advocates, this issue gained attention of those in the highest level of influence and the public at large. Now we are looking forward. Good work has been done: a Tenant Bill of Rights is in place; and homes have been inspected and re-inspected by housing company leadership, Congress, the Department of Defense, the services, and even the Government Accountability Office. We are encouraged by the good will demonstrated by several housing companies as they work to regain trust, including allowing for short-term leases for families at risk of homelessness due to the COVID-19 PCS halt. It is time to continue moving forward toward accountability and transparency — and I think we are heading in the right direction.”
Shannon Razsadin, Executive Director, Military Family Advisory Network