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The Department of Defense did not comment on whether housing issues have become a retention concern. This is just another tick in the box that’s like, ‘Why would I join the military?’ And if you don’t have enough numbers, that’s a long-term national security problem.” “People are feeling abused by the military in so many different areas - the sexual assault issues, the lack of attention to medical care, the lack of attention to mental health. “If you can’t afford your job, why the hell would you stay in the job?” Needham said.

Needham argues that the discrepancy between military housing allowances and the current market should alarm officials who are already struggling to recruit the next generation. In that span, according to real estate company Zillow, rents have skyrocketed 43.9% in those markets: Carlsbad, California Colorado Springs, Colorado El Paso, Texas Killeen, Texas, and Tacoma, Washington.Īnd because of how tough off-base markets are, on-base housing has become a hot commodity, with many bases having long waitlists. Reports of the housing squeeze military families face has alarmed members of Congress, who are pushing legislation that would force the Department of Defense to rethink how it handles housing.Ī common complaint is that with rents soaring nationwide, the housing allowances, which vary by rank and are recalculated annually, haven’t kept pace with rental markets, even though they're supposed to cover 95% of rental costs for the approximately two-thirds of active-duty personnel who, like the Martins, have to live off base.Īccording to a data analysis by The Associated Press of five of the most populous military bases in the U.S., housing allowances across all ranks have risen an average of 18.7% since January 2018. Needham's group supplies microgrants to military families in need, some of whom have resorted to food banks because their salaries do not cover such basics.

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“I don’t think civilians really understand - they might think we’re living in free housing and just having a great time, making lots of money.

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