# Building More Housing for Servicemembers Act

Many military families struggle to find affordable housing near military bases, and this bill is designed to tackle that problem by creating new ways to build and finance housing for active-duty service members and their families. The bill directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to work together on several initiatives to increase the supply of private housing options available to military personnel.

The bill starts by requiring the Defense Secretary to study the housing shortage and report back to Congress within a year. This report needs to examine whether the military can buy land near bases that are experiencing housing shortages and develop private housing on that land, and whether each military installation needs a dedicated housing manager to help coordinate these efforts. The Defense Secretary also has to create guidelines for landlords and private companies about what housing standards they need to meet if they want to participate in military housing programs.

The real action comes through two pilot programs that will run for five years. The first pilot tests whether the military can guarantee tenants to private developers—essentially promising that military families will rent their apartments or homes, which makes it easier for developers to get financing to build. This pilot will operate in up to ten military housing areas with the tightest rental markets. The second pilot program offers financial incentives to developers and landlords who build or renovate housing for military families, with the requirement that a portion of the housing stays affordable for service members. This second pilot will focus on areas with the longest waiting lists for on-base housing and will prioritize affordable, entry-level housing and denser developments. Both pilots will report their results to Congress after five years to determine if these approaches actually work.

Building More Housing for Servicemembers Act

Strickland, Marilyn

Building More Housing for Servicemembers Act This bill addresses the availability and quality of housing for members of the Armed Forces. First, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report to Congress on the housing shortage for members of the Armed Forces. DOD must prescribe guidance for eligible entities and landlords regarding acceptable housing standards for privatized military housing. Under the bill, an eligible entity is any private person, corporation, firm, partnership, company, or state or local government that is prepared to enter into a contract for the construction of housing units and ancillary supporting facilities. DOD must establish a five-year pilot program to assess the feasibility of using the rental partnership programs of the Armed Forces to assure tenants for eligible entities to secure financing to construct privatized military housing. Additionally, DOD must coordinate with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a five-year pilot program to provide financial incentives to eligible entities to build privatized military housing, or to purchase or lease existing facilities, to house members of the Armed Forces and their dependents and low-income individuals and families. Finally, DOD and HUD may jointly operate a grant program through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation within DOD to build housing for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and low-income individuals and families. Household income limits for eligible entities to receive a grant must not differ based on whether a household includes a member of the Armed Forces.