WASHINGTON — Moisture, mold, rodent infestation, lead paint.
Those are the conditions thousands of military members face in government and privatized housing, in Hampton Roads and across the country.
On Thursday, top civilian and uniformed leaders pledged to fix the problems.
"I can state with certainty that we can and we will correct the issue, the issue at hand, which is unacceptable," said Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer.
Hazardous living conditions that service members and their families face while living in privatized military housing were front and center on Capitol Hill, with the service secretaries and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmen appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"I walked through some homes," said Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. "I don't know whether it's simple, pure incompetence or some type of fraudulence or negligence... but our immediate problem is fixing the problems with work orders and getting the families right. But I think we need to take a deeper look at the accountability aspects of this."
Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller said it's an urgent problem.
"It's part of readiness," he said. "We need our families ready. A Marine can't be ready if he or she is not living in a secure, safe place. So I personally commit that we'll get after this."
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said it's up to military leadership to take action.
"The housing companies, the seven [companies that manage privatized housing for the armed forces], they must improve," he said. "But, it is the military that must solve this problem."
The leaders said they're developing a Tenant Bill of Rights which stipulates that military families "have the right to reside in homes and communities that are safe; meet health and environmental standards; have working fixtures, appliances, and utilities; and have well-maintained common areas and amenity spaces."
Navy Secretary Spencer predicted it could be ready within 90 days.
"It's going to take time, but we've got to get it right because it's a good tool," he said.
Senator Kaine will visit Navy housing at Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, while Virginia Senator Mark Warner will meet with military families in Newport News on Monday.