Five privatized military housing companies have formed a new Military Housing Association to represent their industry interests and some firms are ramping up their spending to lobby Congress, according to a Military Times report.
The new coalition has formed as several of the companies have faced increased congressional, Pentagon and public scrutiny of their management of privatized military housing across DOD.
According to the report, among the association’s first activities includes sending a letter to congressional staff echoing administration objections to some of the privatized military housing reforms currently written into the approved House and Senate versions of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
In a Sept. 4 letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the coalition states the administration “strongly objects” to significant reforms in current legislation, according to the report. It also notes issues with altering the terms of current legal agreements with privatized military housing companies.
The letter has raised concern from some reform advocates who have previously expressed disappointment with White House objections to the reforms, according to the report.
The proposed reforms began taking shape in February after military families testified before lawmakers about mold, lead-based paint, water leakage and damage, and many other problems with their housing. Witnesses expressed frustration in getting privatized military housing firms to repair issues, and the lack of DOD support for their efforts, as On Base previously reported.
The association is comprised of the larger privatized housing companies including Balfour Beatty Communities, Corvias, Hunt Military Communities, Lendlease Communities and Lincoln Military Housing, according to the Military Times report.
Their core goal “is to provide high quality housing, community amenities, and responsive property management to improve the quality of life of service members and their families who live in privatized military housing communities,” an association spokeswoman said.