From Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa Southwest Asia Public Affairs
NAPLES, Italy — Mandatory assignment to housing for incoming families has been discontinued aboard Navy installations in Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia in accordance with a policy change established Jan. 1.
Newly arriving families to the Region’s affected installations Naval Station Rota, Spain, and Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, will be given the option of either residing in military family housing or seeking a private rental on the local economy.
“This policy change on housing assignment provides greater flexibility and choice for our families,” said Rear Adm. Tony Gaiani, Navy Region EURAFSWA commander. “Changing conditions have given us the opportunity to try a new approach to family housing assignment in an effort to better serve their needs.”
Since January 2009, a direct housing assignment policy was implemented Region-wide to mitigate high vacancy rates. Of the region’s six installations, Rota and Naples locations were most affected. Upon closing one of its housing areas, Naval Air Station Sigonella developed a waiting list for housing, so mandatory assignment was not in effect. Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, and Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti do not have base housing for families.
“There were families arriving at our installations who desired to move into base housing, but who were unable to do so due to lack of availability driven in part by the mandatory assignment policy,” said Sandra Schlosser, the regional housing program director.
Leased housing on overseas bases has to be paid for whether it is occupied or not, so Schlosser said the policy will be revisited at the end of 2011. If at that time, family housing occupancy rates aboard any installation have fallen below an acceptable level, the installation commanding officer may reinstate the mandatory housing assignment policy aboard his respective installation.
The policy change is intended to provide more options to incoming families with approved permanent change of station orders. However, members already assigned to base housing desiring to relocate to a private rental on the local economy may submit a request for exception to the policy to their respective housing office.
Requests for policy exemption will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the installation commanding officer. If approved, any costs incurred in relocating from base housing to a private rental would be the responsibility of the service member.
The new family housing policy now in effect also stipulates that newly arriving families who choose to reside off base when family housing is available will be responsible for costs related to any later decision to relocate to on-base housing.
Arriving service members who are required to live on the local economy due to lack of available base family housing may receive government funding for relocation when on-base family housing becomes available.
“So long as we are able to maintain an acceptable occupancy rate while offering families choices, we will keep this policy change in place," said Gaiani. "Quality of life and good stewardship of our limited resources are integral to military readiness.”
Personnel and family members with additional questions on the policy change should contact their respective installation housing offices.
For more news and information about the EURAFSWA region, log onto www.cnic.navy.mil/europe or visit www.facebook.com/cnreurafswa.
| Date Taken: | 01.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2011 05:32 |
| Story ID: | 63283 |
| Location: | NAPLES, IT |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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