A study of the U.S. Navy's Family Housing Program and privatization: methods, proposed broadened authorities, and risk analysis.

Abstract

One of the vital problems facing today's military is recruitment. and retention of highly motivated career minded personnel. The quality of life provided to them and their families is one of the most important issues weighing on young service members minds. Adequate housing makes a large contribution to that quality of life. Housing allowances paid to a typical sailor living off- base represent up to one third of his overall compensation package. A sailor living on-base forfeits all housing allowances in exchange for free housing. In many areas affordable adequate housing is unavailable to sailors in the off-base economy. Conflicting priorities between housing needs and other military programs have created an $11 billion backlog in housing maintenance and construction. This and the lack of suitable off-base housing has produced a crisis in military housing that directly impacts military readiness. Since 1984 the Navy has used public private ventures in attempts to increase the supply of quality housing near bases. These attempts have met with mixed results. and shortages remain in many areas.