A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that the Department of Defense (DOD) is not doing enough to address housing shortages and affordability issues near military bases. These gaps have forced many service members to live in RVs, work second jobs, or leave their families behind to manage high housing costs.
The report notes that around two-thirds of U.S. military personnel live off-base, where rising rental prices make housing inaccessible in some areas. Surveyed local officials near military bases reported that 67% of housing markets were “somewhat” or “very” unaffordable, and 51% said available housing was insufficient.
During GAO visits to selected DOD sites, service members shared difficulties, saying they had to take on debt, commute long distances, or even leave their families in other states due to a lack of affordable housing.
The watchdog’s report also found that the DOD lacks regular, up-to-date housing assessments to identify and address areas with critical housing needs.
The GAO recommended that the Pentagon update its assessments, establish clear guidelines for working with local communities, and regularly gather service member feedback on housing challenges to better support military families.
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