(Army Times) Editorial: Make housing rules fair

[unhappycamper]

Make housing rules fair

The National Military/Veterans Alliance plans to call for a review of the standards on which housing allowance rates are based. And for good reason.

The Basic Allowance for Housing is formulated on two factors: what the Pentagon considers “appropriate” housing — apartments, town houses or single-family homes — for each paygrade, and what it costs to rent such homes in each location.

BAH rates have risen steadily over the past decade as the Pentagon has been committed to covering full average rental costs of an appropriate home for every service member. But the housing standards haven’t changed at all.

And under those standards, the only enlisted troops who rate single-family homes are married E-9s. That doesn’t match modern expectations for housing. And in many housing markets, it doesn’t match what’s available.

The expectation that all but the most senior enlisted members be satisfied with apartments and town houses leads many troops to continue paying out of their pockets to provide better housing for themselves and their families.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_fair_020209/%2e