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For military families, it can be tough to find an affordable home near their work. The DoD (Department of Defense) are the ones that you turn to when help is needed. They help military members and their families by providing housing options both on and off base. Service Members with families most often have the option of living on-base in military family housing for no cost to them. Or they can chose to live off-base and receive a monthly housing allowance. Members who are assigned to locations where dependents are not allowed to travel at the governments cost (for example: for basic training, and some overseas assignments) can live in the barracks for free, and still continue to receive the housing allowance in order to provide a home for their family.
I've been around many people who have either been in and around the military, even though I have never done so myself. I've realized that each base is different but even though the housing options are different, the rules are the same:
To live among the military family housing, the service member must be live in the house with his or her dependent(s) as in they spouse and kids. The only exceptions are for those who are deployed, or who are serving a remote overseas tour. The family members can then continue to live in military housing. If single or divorced and have custody of children for at least 1/2 of the year, then they would also qualify. If your married and you and your spouse separate, when they move out of the home with the children (if children are involved), termination of the current family housing agreement will undergo within 60 days. If the you (the military service member) moves out, then your family will lose the military housing within 60 days. Which is not a long time when you actually think about the whole concept of moving a family. Knowing what to expect while planning your move to a military base is very important when a family is involved. Moving can be stressful all on it's on but when it comes to all of the rules from the military, being prepared can make all the difference.
I've added a couple resources in-case you find yourself needing more information about the military house options that are available for Military families.
Both articles explain the differences of living on and off base along with what to expect, they are full of interesting and useful information that I believe new military families can benefit from and I'm happy to share them with you.
Are any of you part of military family and have something to add? Feel free to comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks for sharing this information - I wasn't aware of it all!
ReplyDeleteYour very welcome :)
DeleteThe on-post housing isn't exactly "free." What they do is take the full amount of your given housing allowance for the duty station where you are living. That housing allowance is still counted as their "income" even though it automatically goes to housing. Some housing charge for utilities - others do not. More and more housing is being privatized - meaning housing is managed by a civilian 3rd party. Housing allowance is set to come automatically out of the soldier's check and paid directly to the leasing office. Both of the duty stations we lived had privatized housing. When this is the case, you are more likely to have utility bills. They generally take an average of similar houses. If you go over that average you pay the difference.
ReplyDeleteIf the service member is a higher rank, living off post may be considered a "better deal." After all, someone of a higher rank is "paying" for the same housing except they are paying more for it since housing does take their entire housing allowance. For lower ranking soldiers with big families it's usually not affordable to live on the economy with the housing allowance we are given. We never had a choice.
Our journey ends on Friday. The movers are coming to pack up our stuff, and that is the last of our journey with the military!
Thanks for your input! It's nice to hear a point of view from someone who has lived the military life.
DeleteYou're welcome! :)
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