Latest news with #BasicAllowanceforHousing
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Collateral damage: The airmen who can't afford Utah anymore
As the mayor of Utah's 'Military City,' I have the daily privilege of watching the men and women at Hill Air Force Base help defend our national security. Unfortunately, these same airmen's security at home is under a different kind of attack right now: Personnel, from the newly enlisted to the officer level, can no longer afford to live in our town. Even worse, from everything I am hearing from brave folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s, this challenge is not unique to Clearfield City. Late last year, personnel across the armed services told the Government Accountability Office that they 'had to take on significant debt … Some of them had to run through all of their savings…or take on second jobs. Some of them [decided] not to bring their family members to their next deployment because they couldn't afford family housing off base.' The most recent Military Family Life Survey reported that off-base housing was the third-highest concern for active-duty service members. Adding another insult, veteran homelessness has risen 7 percent since 2023 after years of declines due to targeted assistance. Having our military members who have bravely put their lives on the line to defend our nation live in sub-par housing, or struggle to afford food because all of their available income goes to housing, sends the wrong message to the military members and to the communities in which they live. It is a shame for our country. But behind these economic and social storm clouds, there can be a better tomorrow, which is why America's bipartisan mayors and business leaders are working together to help get common-sense legislation, policymaking and housing investment moving again — with the goal to make housing affordable again. One specific piece of legislation I've been working on with Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) would offer a low-income housing tax credit to developers who build housing within 15 miles of large military installations like Hill Air Force Base. The bill would also exclude service members' housing allowance from income calculations, meaning those members might qualify for low-income housing. While Congress and the Pentagon have sought to relieve the affordability concerns through increases to the Basic Allowance for Housing and by updating the formula for the allowance to better match actual housing costs, these efforts still lag behind the market. Lawmakers have also proposed to make the allowance cover 100 percent of housing costs instead of the current 95 percent. But there's more we can do. As co-chair of Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, I'm working with bipartisan mayors and business leaders on targeted, concrete proposals to work toward four goals. First, we hope to support and strengthen existing federal programs that are proven effective, including making HUD funding more accessible to families and preserving municipal bonds' tax-exempt status, providing towns like Clearfield City with reliable capital necessary to finance affordable housing development. Second, we mean to treat housing as infrastructure by expanding tools and financing to stimulate private market production of affordable housing for working and low-income families. As part of this, we oppose widespread tariffs on building materials like Canadian lumber, which the National Association of Home Builders says could add up to $10,000 to the cost of building a single-family home. Third, we aim to cut red tape by allowing more local flexibility in existing federal housing programs, like streamlining environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act to expedite affordable housing development. Finally, we wish to build local capacity by strengthening local, skilled, organizations that ensure the effective and efficient deployment of available federal resources to help local governments reach their most vulnerable citizens. In towns like Clearfield City, we're also pushing into innovative affordable housing models and advanced building techniques like accessory dwelling units, panelized modular structures, and regional housing solutions in order to get all our neighbors under a roof they can afford. I don't want to watch another F-35A Lightning II launch from Hill AFB while knowing that brave pilot might be worried about his or her rent payment. An airman who is worried about where they're going to house their family is an airman preoccupied by something other than their mission. That's when a housing issue also becomes a national security issue. To make housing affordable again for our warfighters, our teachers, our firefighters and all our neighbors, Congress and the administration need to join Moore and others and act now. This crisis is being fought not on the battle front in some distant land, but right in our own back yards. Mark Shepherd is mayor of Clearfield City, Utah. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Collateral damage: The airmen who can't afford Utah anymore
As the mayor of Utah's 'Military City,' I have the daily privilege of watching the men and women at Hill Air Force Base help defend our national security. Unfortunately, these same airmen's security at home is under a different kind of attack right now: Personnel, from the newly enlisted to the officer level, can no longer afford to live in our town. Even worse, from everything I am hearing from brave folks in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s, this challenge is not unique to Clearfield City. Late last year, personnel across the armed services told the Government Accountability Office that they 'had to take on significant debt … Some of them had to run through all of their savings…or take on second jobs. Some of them [decided] not to bring their family members to their next deployment because they couldn't afford family housing off base.' The most recent Military Family Life Survey reported that off-base housing was the third-highest concern for active-duty service members. Adding another insult, veteran homelessness has risen 7 percent since 2023 after years of declines due to targeted assistance. Having our military members who have bravely put their lives on the line to defend our nation live in sub-par housing, or struggle to afford food because all of their available income goes to housing, sends the wrong message to the military members and to the communities in which they live. It is a shame for our country. But behind these economic and social storm clouds, there can be a better tomorrow, which is why America's bipartisan mayors and business leaders are working together to help get common-sense legislation, policymaking and housing investment moving again — with the goal to make housing affordable again. One specific piece of legislation I've been working on with Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) would offer a low-income housing tax credit to developers who build housing within 15 miles of large military installations like Hill Air Force Base. The bill would also exclude service members' housing allowance from income calculations, meaning those members might qualify for low-income housing. While Congress and the Pentagon have sought to relieve the affordability concerns through increases to the Basic Allowance for Housing and by updating the formula for the allowance to better match actual housing costs, these efforts still lag behind the market. Lawmakers have also proposed to make the allowance cover 100 percent of housing costs instead of the current 95 percent. But there's more we can do. As co-chair of Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, I'm working with bipartisan mayors and business leaders on targeted, concrete proposals to work toward four goals. First, we hope to support and strengthen existing federal programs that are proven effective, including making HUD funding more accessible to families and preserving municipal bonds' tax-exempt status, providing towns like Clearfield City with reliable capital necessary to finance affordable housing development. Second, we mean to treat housing as infrastructure by expanding tools and financing to stimulate private market production of affordable housing for working and low-income families. As part of this, we oppose widespread tariffs on building materials like Canadian lumber, which the National Association of Home Builders says could add up to $10,000 to the cost of building a single-family home. Third, we aim to cut red tape by allowing more local flexibility in existing federal housing programs, like streamlining environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act to expedite affordable housing development. Finally, we wish to build local capacity by strengthening local, skilled, organizations that ensure the effective and efficient deployment of available federal resources to help local governments reach their most vulnerable citizens. In towns like Clearfield City, we're also pushing into innovative affordable housing models and advanced building techniques like accessory dwelling units, panelized modular structures, and regional housing solutions in order to get all our neighbors under a roof they can afford. I don't want to watch another F-35A Lightning II launch from Hill AFB while knowing that brave pilot might be worried about his or her rent payment. An airman who is worried about where they're going to house their family is an airman preoccupied by something other than their mission. That's when a housing issue also becomes a national security issue. To make housing affordable again for our warfighters, our teachers, our firefighters and all our neighbors, Congress and the administration need to join Moore and others and act now. This crisis is being fought not on the battle front in some distant land, but right in our own back yards.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What troops need to know about Basic Allowance for Housing in 2025
Note: Whether it's health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs — including quality-of-life initiatives — these benefits were in place as of this writing. Visit this page for all of our latest coverage surrounding military and veteran pay and benefits. The military's housing stipend, known as the Basic Allowance for Housing, increased by an average of 5.4% per person in January 2025, the same percentage increase troops saw in 2024. Whether service members saw a larger or smaller increase than average depends on their location. BAH rates are typically adjusted once a year and take effect Jan. 1. However, DOD in the post-pandemic years took additional steps to ease the burden of surging housing costs on service members. The Pentagon provided temporary out-of-cycle increases in BAH for some hard-hit areas in 2021 and 2022; it also bumped up the rate by 12.1%, on average, in 2023 — the largest increase in 15 years. Meanwhile, the military is continuing to study how BAH is calculated and whether the stipend meets the needs of service members. The Basic Allowance for Housing provides compensation for the housing costs of active duty troops stationed in the 50 U.S. states who do not live on government-owned property. Stipend amounts are tied to local market rates and depend on recipients' rank, whether they have dependents and where they are based. The tax-free benefit is intended to cover 95% of the estimated average housing costs, including utilities, at each assigned duty post in the United States. Individual service members are expected to pay the remaining 5% of housing costs out of pocket. Congress or the Pentagon could boost the stipend to cover 100% of those projected expenses instead. Most service members can choose where to live. Those living in privatized housing — owned and operated by civilian companies for the military — also receive BAH, but the allowance typically goes straight to their landlord each month. If troops can find housing in the civilian community that's cheaper than the BAH rate for their assigned location, they can pocket the difference. And if homes are more expensive than what BAH will cover, troops pay for the overage. Those stationed in U.S. territories or overseas who are not provided government housing are eligible for an overseas housing allowance, which is calculated under a separate formula. That allowance partially offsets housing expenses at overseas duty locations when service members live in privately leased housing on the local economy. DOD conducts a survey to calculate median rental costs for 300 military housing areas, including Alaska and Hawaii. Calculations are based on the rental costs of a one- or two-bedroom apartment, a two- or three-bedroom townhome and a two- or three-bedroom single-family home. The BAH for junior enlisted, for example, might be based on the equivalent of a small apartment, while the allowance for more senior enlisted and officers might be based on the equivalent of a house. Two rates — with and without dependents — are set for each location. Personnel with at least one dependent, whether a spouse or a child, qualify for the dependents rate. It does not increase for additional family members. For dual-military couples with no children, both spouses get the without-dependents rate. If the couple has children, one spouse receives the with-dependent BAH rate, while the other gets the without-dependents rate. BAH varies widely. For details of locations across the country, you can use the Defense Department's official BAH calculator. Service members receive BAH rate protection as long as they remain in their home, even if rates drop. However, if they move, are demoted or their dependency status changes, they will receive the rate for their new status. If rates rise in a location, all service members receive the higher rates, regardless of when they arrived. Find more information on BAH on DOD's website. A new Basic Needs Allowance for low-income military families took effect Jan. 1, 2023. The payout is designed to serve as a safety net for individuals whose total family income, including the spouse's income, falls below 150% of the annual federal poverty guidelines. But for many members, the housing allowance bumps them above the income threshold. The law was changed in late 2024 to expand eligibility to those whose total family income falls below 200% of the annual federal poverty guidelines. Service officials continually screen service members and notify those who may be eligible. Once people are told they could qualify, they must submit an application and go through a final income screening to determine whether they can receive the benefit. DOD policy allows service members who believe they may qualify for the benefit, but haven't been screened as eligible, to apply on their own. They should contact their financial counselors for help.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What troops need to know about the GI Bill, tuition assistance in 2025
Note: Whether it's health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs — including quality-of-life initiatives — these benefits were in place as of this writing. Visit this page for all of our latest coverage surrounding military and veteran pay and benefits. The military helps troops and veterans achieve their educational goals with financial assistance offered through a number of programs. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a benefit for the latest generation of service members and veterans, as well as their eligible dependents. It includes payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for textbooks and supplies. The amount of time a veteran spends on active duty determines their benefit level. In general, the higher the level, the less individuals have to pay out of pocket for school. The benefit maxes out at full coverage of in-state tuition at public universities. Here's what veterans who received an honorable discharge after Sept. 10, 2001, are eligible for, based on the amount of time they've served: 100%: 36 months or more of active duty service, or discharged after at least 30 continuous days due to a service-connected disability 90%: 30-36 months 80%: 24-30 months 70%: 18-24 months 60%: 6-18 months 50%: 90 days-6 months No benefit: Fewer than 90 days Veterans who served before Sept. 10, 2001, are not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Another deadline vets should be aware of: If someone's service ended before Jan. 1, 2013, their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will expire 15 years after they last separated from active duty. If their service ended in 2013 or later, the benefit does not expire. Veterans can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for courses at a college, university, trade school, flight school or apprenticeship program. While the benefit covers all in-state tuition and fees at public institutions, it may not have the same reach at a private or foreign school. The maximum tuition coverage for private nonprofit, private for-profit and foreign schools for the 2024-2025 school year was $28,937.09. That figure is expected to increase again in August. The housing stipends GI Bill users receive depend on the level of benefits they're eligible for, how many courses they take and where they go to class. The rate is determined by the Defense Department's Basic Allowance for Housing scale and is paid at the same rate an active duty E-5 with dependents would receive in a particular area. If veterans are pursuing a degree entirely online, they will get half of the national BAH average. Congress passed changes to the program at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to allow students forced online by campus closures and virus mitigation efforts to receive full housing benefits. Those protections have now expired, but could be used again in similar cases of national emergency under legislation enacted in 2022. In the past, the Department of Veterans Affairs based the housing allowance on the location of a school's main campus, even if a student took classes at a different branch. However, in 2019, the 'Forever GI Bill' directed the VA to instead link the housing stipend to the location where a student attends most of their classes. Service members may transfer their benefits to a dependent, provided they have already served in the military for at least six years and agree to serve for four more after DOD approves the transfer. The transfer must happen while an individual is still in uniform. Veterans who have already separated from the military are not eligible to transfer their benefits. Children are only eligible to start using the transferred benefits after the service member who gave them the funds has completed at least 10 years of service. Spouses can use the transferred benefits right away. Following a Supreme Court decision in 2024, veterans who earned both Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while completing two separate periods of military service may be eligible to receive 12 additional months of educational payouts, above the 36 that either program currently provides. Veterans should contact VA for information on eligibility and delivery of the extra stipends. Active duty service members in August 2022 became eligible for the VA Yellow Ribbon program, which allows private schools to match VA benefits with their own tuition assistance. More details about the GI Bill are available here: The VA also maintains a GI Bill Comparison Tool, found here: Veterans can apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill online — — or by visiting their local VA regional office. If a beneficiary has already chosen a school or program, arrange a meeting with the institution's VA certifying official, who can help get the process started. While troops can begin to use their GI Bill benefits on active duty, their service branch can often help them pay for college by using tuition assistance first — saving the GI Bill for later. TA is a federal benefit that covers the cost of tuition, up to certain limits, for active duty service members, as well as some members of the National Guard and reserves. The military services directly pay those funds to schools. Generally, all service members must have enough time remaining in service to complete any courses in which they enroll and must meet minimum grade standards to remain eligible for the program. Each service has its own requirements. Air Force: All officers incur a service requirement if they use TA, but there is no service-length requirement to begin using the benefit. Navy: Enlisted sailors and officers, including Navy reservists, must have a minimum of three years of military service before becoming eligible to use TA. Army: Active duty officers incur a two-year service obligation if they enroll in classes. Reserve component officers incur a four-year service obligation. Marine Corps: Marines must agree to at least two more years of active duty service to use the benefit. Coast Guard: Active duty members must have been on long-term active orders for more than 180 days to access TA. The Coast Guard also has unit-specific requirements and requires commanding officer approval. National Guard/reserve: Soldiers who are activated or on drill status are eligible under the same conditions as active duty Army personnel. Air National Guardsmen and reservists of other branches are eligible for TA if they are activated, and the use of TA often comes with a service obligation once the last course is completed. All of the services cap tuition assistance at $250 per credit hour and $4,500 per fiscal year. Generally, TA funds can be used to pursue a higher degree than what troops have already earned, up to a master's degree. For instance, if someone has a bachelor's degree, they can then pursue a graduate degree — not an associate degree or a second bachelor's degree, though there are some exceptions. Some branches require troops to create a degree plan or take a branch-specific course before TA benefits are approved.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate Dems ask Hegseth to probe potential price gouging on military families' housing
Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee are asking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to probe what's driving the price hikes in rent and housing costs for military families. Specifically, 15 Democrats — led by the committee's ranking member, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — wrote a letter on Monday asking the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate whether the high prices are a result of companies and landlords using RealPage's rent-pricing system. RealPage, a property management software company, is facing legal action from the Justice Department and 10 state attorneys general, who argue its rent-pricing system allows landlords to align their rents with each other to stifle competition and increase their own revenue, thereby hurting tenants. 'Services provided by RealPage may enable landlords to raise rents even more aggressively to the detriment of military families,' the lawmakers wrote. 'RealPage's services YieldStar and AIRM help landlords exchange proprietary information about lease terms and rents in order to maximize revenue.' The Senate Democrats are asking DOD to investigate whether landlords and private companies with which DOD has housing contracts are using RealPage's products 'to price gouge military families'; whether the DOD is taking steps to protect military families' data from being disclosed to housing companies; and what steps DOD is taking to ensure military families have access to safe, clean and affordable housing. 'The Department of Defense has a responsibility to protect military families from predatory private housing companies and ensure that taxpayer dollars meant for military families are not being pocketed by unscrupulous landlords,' they wrote. The lawmakers expressed concern, too, that the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) — which the DOD provides service members to help with housing costs — is not keeping up with the costs of rent. The Senate Democrats asked DOD to probe, too, reports that landlords are raising rents to profit off BAH increases rather than because of market conditions, citing a study saying this practice is 'common.' 'These findings raise significant concerns that landlords are profiteering by taking taxpayer money that is intended to support military families,' the lawmakers wrote. They also noted that, in 2022, the DOD increased the BAH for 28 areas where rental prices increased dramatically. In 'several' of those areas — according to the Senate Democrats, who cited the DOJ lawsuit — RealPage allegedly 'contributed to excessive rental costs.' RealPage did not respond to a request for comment, but the company has forcefully defended itself against the legal challenges it faces. The company says housing affordability is the 'real problem' and that the purpose of its revenue management system 'is to optimize revenue – not to maximize rents.' The company also has said that some price recommendations include lowering rents – not just raising rents – and that the landlords and companies that use the software are never coerced into accepting the software's pricing recommendations. 'Housing affordability should be the real focus. RealPage is proud of the role our customers play in providing safe and affordable housing to millions of people. Despite the noise, we will continue to innovate with confidence and make sure our solutions continue to benefit residents and housing providers alike,' RealPage CEO and President Dana Jones said in a statement on the company's website, responding to the 'false claims' in 'media and legal filings.' A DOD spokesperson said the Department would respond directly to the authors of the letter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
