NORFOLK, Va. — Military families residing in privatized housing are getting a new avenue to register complaints.
Back in 2018, it came to light that military tenants in more than 203,000 privatized housing units at nearly 200 bases across the country faced rodent infestations, mold, dangerous wiring, flooding and worse.
Families were frustrated at the lack of response from some privatized housing landlords and military leaders.
Congress got involved, and the military took a number of steps to improve housing and their oversight, including a tenant bill of rights.
Now this week, the Defense of Department announced the launch of the long-awaited "DOD Housing Feedback System."
The publicly available website allows verified tenants to submit feedback about issues with their housing unit for inclusion in the database.
According to a release on the DOD website, "The new feedback system will help improve installation conditions today and the quality standards Service members and their families deserve."
"The Department of Defense has a moral obligation to ensure that the spaces where our service members and their families live are healthy, functional and resilient. This new feedback system is a critical step to ensure transparency and timely responses to occupants' concerns and aligns with the Secretary Austin's priority to take care of our people," said Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary.
Fourteen private companies operate the various housing units. There are 35 of these privatized military housing complexes in Hampton Roads.