Increasing the Supply of Family Housing
Abstract
DoD faces a severe shortage of suitable family housing for Military Service members, particularly in cities where housing costs are high and in rural areas where housing is not readily available. DoD can increase the supply of affordable housing by upgrading existing units, constructing new ones, and locating them more effectively. The most cost-effective actions are to remodel on-base units to create denser, multifamily configurations and to enter into long-term leases for off-base residential units. Efforts to find residential units within reasonable commuting distances and to join with local governments in grant programs for public housing construction and residential housing rehabilitation, are more cost effective than contracting for construction under existing legislative authorities. Because it is the least cost effective housing alternative, increased housing allowances should be sought only after all of the other actions have been attempted. We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations) direct installation managers to use the most cost effective strategy feasible and show evidence of having done so when justifying new construction funding. He should also request changes in existing Office of Management and Budget policy to authorize lease-purchase housing for multiyear rather than a single-year funding. Keywords: Housing(Dwellings), Cost analysis, Energy management.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA203534
Entities
People
- Douglas M. Brown
Organizations
- LMI